دانلود رایگان ترجمه مقاله هیدروژل چیتین تقویت شده با نانوذرات TiO2 به عنوان یک جاذب آرسنیک (نشریه الزویر 2016)

هیدروژل چیتین تقویت شده با نانوذرات TiO2 به عنوان یک جاذب آرسنیک

Chitin hydrogel reinforced with TiO2 nanoparticles as an arsenic sorbent

Abstract

In this work chitin hydrogels were reinforced with TiO2 nanoparticles acting as fillers. The mechanical and physicochemical characteristics of these hydrogels were studied by oscillatory rheology, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Small Angle X-ray Spectroscopy (SAXS). Adsorption showed to be higher at pHs below the TiO2 point of zero charge (pH ≈ 6.9). The equilibrium was achieved within 4 h following an Elovich kinetic model. The equilibrium assay showed a maximum capacity of 3.1 mg/g with better fitting for the Langmuir model. Moreover, the homogeneity/heterogeneity parameters of the Sips, Toth and Redlich–Peterson models were close to a value of 1, indicating a homogeneous sorbent/sorbate interaction. Typical natural water ions competed with As(V) for the sorption sites, being sulfate the most relevant interference. This interference was also evidenced in As(V) adsorption from natural water samples where the sorption capacity varied depending the anion composition of the sample. The reutilization of the hybrid gel was assessed up to five adsorption cycles.

1 Introduction

Arsenic presence in natural waters is a matter of concern in vast areas of Argentina, Chile, China, India, Bangladesh, among others countries. Arsenic water contamination is usually associated with non-urban zones where fast, easy application and low-cost answers are needed. With this aim several techniques have been studied, such as coagulation-coprecipitation, photocatalytic reduction, photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption using different materials [1–3].

Among As adsorbents, TiO2 has been studied in different formats and sizes, from nanoparticles to micrometric range granular particles [4–6]. It is a non-toxic compound used in pharmaceutic, cosmetic and biomedical products due to its biocompatibility [7]. However, the use of powdered TiO2 in aqueous media requires laborious separation to prevent the leakage of the particles [1,8]. In this aspect, the development of hybrid materials represents a novel strategy for the mechanical reinforcement and chemical stability of the sorbent and the prevention of the particle leakage. Examples of these hybrids are polyurethane–keratin membranes, Chitin–Kraft lignin, chitosan–sulfydryl bearing graphene oxide, sil ica–alginate–xanthan gum, etc [9–12].

In the last years, chitin based hybrids have enhanced their applicability as biomaterials thanks to novel manipulation techniques which have overcome the polysaccharide low solubility [13,14]. Chitin is a cheap polysaccharide that can be extracted from shrimp, crab shell, fungi, as well as other invertebrates such as marine sponges [15,16]. Being a waste material from food industry it is a low-cost biopolymer which is also biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic [7]. Although less expensive and chemically more stable in comparison with its derivative chitosan, literature still shows few approaches dedicated to pure chitin derived hydrogel materials. Most of these studies use the potentially toxic crosslinker epichlorohydrin for the obtaining of reinforced materials, such as chitin/poly(vinyl alcohol) or chitin/clay nanotubes [17,18]. Other approaches achieve the material final structure either by lyophilization or by reinforcement with high loads of graphene oxide [19–21].

The aim of this work was to combine two low-cost, non-toxic and biocompatible compounds for the obtaining of a chemically and mechanically stable arsenic adsorbent. Herein, a chitin hydrogel reinforced with TiO2 nanoparticles was developed for As(V) adsorption. Chitin and TiO2 nanoparticles were chosen based in their lower cost in comparison with other polysaccharides and metal nanoparticles and the latter’s high surface area and arsenic sorption capacity. The nanostructure of the composites was characterized using different spectroscopic techniques and the degree of reinforcement was assessed by a rheological analysis. The As (V) adsorption performance was evaluated by means of the influence of media pH, interaction time, sorption capacity, competing ions and reutilization. The sorption capacity was also assessed against natural water samples containing natural arsenic or spiked with known concentrations.