Photodegradation of toxic dye using Gum Arabic-crosslinked-poly(acrylamide)/Ni(OH)2/FeOOH nanocomposites hydrogel

Guar gum and its composites as potential materials for diverse applications: A review

Removal of safranin dye from water using polypyrrole nanofiber/Zn-Fe layered double hydroxide nanocomposite (Ppy NF/Zn-Fe LDH) of enhanced adsorption and photocatalytic properties

Nanocomposite hydrogels are polymeric networks that possess a unique property of hydration. The presence of alcohols, carboxylic acids and amides as hydrophilic moieties in structure of nanocomposite hydrogels enhances their stiffness and water-absorbing capacity. Addition of cross-linker in the synthesis of hydrogels increases their stability under extreme conditions of temperature, pH and pressure. Natural polymer-based nanocomposite hydrogels are biodegradable, highly hydrophilic and possess good mechanical strength. Gelatin, chitin, cellulose, pectin, carrageenan, starch and alginate are natural polymers commonly used to fabricate nanocomposite hydrogels. Nanocomposite hydrogels have special characteristics such as high swelling rate, selectivity and stimuli-sensitive nature. Here we review nanocomposite hydrogels for environmental protection and biomedical engineering. Applications in biomedical engineering include drug delivery agents, wound dressing, tissue engineering and antibacterials. Applications in environmental protection include ion exchangers, adsorption, photocatalysis and soil conditioning. Many nanocomposite hydrogels show excellent adsorption selectivity for heavy metal ions: Cu2+ up to 30.35 mg/g, Pb2+ up to 35.94 mg/g, and Zn2+ and Fe3+ up to 94.34 mg/g. Xanthan gum-based nanocomposite hydrogel has removed 96% dye from industrial effluent as reported. In addition, most of the nanocomposite hydrogels showed better adsorption capacity for pollutants in the pH range from 5 to 7. The nanocomposite hydrogels could also be regenerated and successfully utilized for several times. Nanocomposite hydrogels are therefore good bio-absorbent materials for environmental detoxification.

Applications of nanocomposite hydrogels for biomedical engineering and environmental protection

Bio-inspired and biomaterials-based hybrid photocatalysts for environmental detoxification: A review

Efficient photocatalytic degradation of toxic dyes from aqueous environment using gelatin-Zr(IV) phosphate nanocomposite and its antimicrobial activity.

Alginate-Zr (IV) phosphate nanocomposite ion exchanger: Binary separation of heavy metals, photocatalysis and antimicrobial activity

In this work we report the fabrication of novel magnetic ternary PANI/LaFeO3/CoFe2O4 (PLC) heterojunction through in situ polymerization of aniline. As fabricated photo catalyst has been characterized by using FT-IR, XRD and XPS. The surface as well as internal morphologies has been studied by SEM and TEM. The optical activities have been investigated by UV-Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The synthesized catalysts were used for effective photo degradation of pharmaceutical pollutant clozapine (CZP) under visible light irradiation. In comparison with sole counterpart photo catalysts PANI, LaFeO3 and CoFe2O4, PLC demonstrated superior photo-activity, PLC able to degrade 94.2% of CZP over 120 min photo degradation experiment. The effect of catalysts dosage, pH, SO42-, NO3- and HCO3- ion on the photocatalytic activity has been explored. 37.4% and 78.3% of TOC and COD removal has been achieved for the CZP photo-degradation by PLC. The major active radical species have been identified by performing radical scavenging experiment.

Robust visible light active PANI/LaFeO3/CoFe2O4 ternary heterojunction for the photo-degradation and mineralization of pharmaceutical effluent: Clozapine

Synthetic organic compounds are widely used on large scale in different areas such as manufacturing processes, production, and preservation of food, for human and animal healthcare. A diverse array of sources responsible for the release of organic pollutants into the environment includes combustion of fossil fuels, chemical industries, traffic, pesticides used in agriculture area, and water treatment using chlorination. The occurrence of these chemicals exposes severe hazard to human health, ecosystem, and living organisms. One of the major class of toxic organic compounds is persistent organic pollutants (POPs) released in the environment by different human activities. These chemical substances become a major concern because of their persistence, toxicity, bioaccumulation, and susceptibility. POPs are halogenated organic compounds resistant to biological, photolytic, and chemical degradation. POPs are the world's most harmful chemicals including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and by-products such as dioxins and furans, etc. The continuous discharge of dangerous pollutants into the soil, water, and sediments imparts drastic effects on the whole world. POPs include PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, DDT, hexachlorobenzene, and other by-products of industrial processes including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. These organic pollutants are synthetic, persistent, lipophilic, highly toxic, and accumulate in the food chain. POPs bioaccumulate in adipose tissue and increase the risk of adverse health effects to infants. The individual organic compounds have diverse toxicological properties which impart adverse biological effects in fish, wildlife, and humans. Also, the highest levels of POPs are found in marine mammals, which lead to vitamin and thyroid deficiencies and cause microbial infections and reproductive disorders.

Manita Thakur

Papers

Efficient photocatalytic degradation of toxic dyes from aqueous environment using gelatin-Zr(IV) phosphate nanocomposite and its antimicrobial activity.

Alginate-Zr (IV) phosphate nanocomposite ion exchanger: Binary separation of heavy metals, photocatalysis and antimicrobial activity

Robust visible light active PANI/LaFeO3/CoFe2O4 ternary heterojunction for the photo-degradation and mineralization of pharmaceutical effluent: Clozapine

Environmental fate of organic pollutants and effect on human health

Chlorophyll sensitized (BiO)2CO3/ CdWO4/rGO nano-hybrid assembly for solar assisted photo-degradation of chlorzoxazone.