Environmental Remediation using Novel Sponges as an Effective Adsorbents

Abstract

At present, the precious water resource is of concern due to its depletion by toxic elements and organic pollutants that result in environmental hazards. The present work comprises various sponge adsorbents with unique adsorption performance in environmental remediation. Researchers explored novel chitosan and cellulose-based sponge adsorbents as green materials in the adsorption of toxins. Chitosan sponge adsorbent (MIL-101(Fe)@CS Sponge) with adsorption capacity 4518 mg/g and polyurethane sponge-based adsorbent (RCS) with adsorption capacity 1263.5 mg/g were identified as superior sponge adsorbents in dye removal.The dye adsorption on sponge adsorbents occurred predominantly through the chemical adsorption mechanism with electrostatic interaction. The adsorption capacity of sponge adsorbents in environmental remediation is in the following order (Chitosan sponge>polyurethane sponge>Cellulose sponge> Graphene sponge>luffa sponge). The current interest among researchers in using bio-materials will provide a worthy challenge and the future possibility of designing novel sponge adsorbents with unique surface properties for various applications.