Chitosan-Derived Iron Oxide Systems for Magnetically Guided and Efficient Water Purification Processes from Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Chitosan and pyrolyzed chitosan, acting as protective frameworks of magnetic nanoparticles (magnetite/ maghemite and/or metallic Fe), have been investigated to be used in magnetically guided water remediation processes from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Chitosan-derived magnet-sensitive materials were first obtained by a one-step coprecipitation method, and then two carbon-derived magnetic chitosan materials were obtained under N 2 gas flow at 550 and 800°C, respectively. The obtained materials were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), magnetic force microscopy (MFM), and magnetization measurements. Thermal treatment conditions, along with the amounts of chitosan used in the synthesis processes, played a critical role in the crystal structure and magnetic properties of the obtained nanomaterials. The adsorption capacity of chitosan-derived magnet-sensitive materials was tested toward PAHs. The results indicate high sorption capacity for anthracene and naphthalene onto the chitosan-derived material pyrolyzed at 550°C. Furthermore, experiments performed with a mixture of eight PAHs show that PAH molecules with higher hydrophobicity and more extended aromaticity had stronger sorption capacity. Interestingly, due to the obtained results, the use of chitosan is encouraged as a platform for the creation of green adsorbents for further developments in wastewater purification treatments.

The Innovation Comes from the Sea: Chitosan and Alginate Hybrid Gels and Films as Sustainable Materials for Wastewater Remediation

“…Chitosan has unique properties among biopolymers since it contains primary amino groups [14] and is considered a low-toxic, non-immunogenic and biodegradable polysaccharide [15]. Indeed, chitosan and its derivatives have been used in the cosmetic industry, for food packaging, agriculture, environmental remediation and biomedical applications such as drug-delivery systems and/or as antimicrobial agents [16][17][18][19].…”

New Insights on the Photodegradation of Caffeine in the Presence of Bio-Based Substances-Magnetic Iron Oxide Hybrid Nanomaterials

“…Contaminants of emerging concern span a variety of chemicals comprising pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), flame retardants (FRs), pesticides, and artificial sweeteners (ASWs) and their metabolites (see References [ 5 , 6 , 7 ] and references therein). Based on their harmfulness to human and environment health, there is an increasing commitment to find efficient processes for their abatement [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. A CEC abatement approach that has been proposed by several research groups is represented by the so-called advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) that exploit the generation of highly reactive species (mainly HO· radicals) to induce the oxidative degradation of the organic pollutants, until their complete mineralization is attained.…”

Microscopic Techniques for the Analysis of Micro and Nanostructures of Biopolymers and Their Derivatives

“…This technique is advantageous as it minimizes the effects caused by non-magnetic forces and ensures only the record of magnetic forces [226,227]. The use of MFM in biopolymer systems is marginally explored and is limited to the analysis of magnetic biocomposites [83,[228][229][230][231]. The magnetic properties of the magnetic nanoparticles loaded biopolymeric systems can be evaluated by means of MFM.…”