Nanoparticle-encapsulated organo-magnetogels: crosslinked network for broad-spectrum pollutant removal

npj Clean Water, vol. 8

Abstract

Abstract In this contribution, we report the synthesis of a poly(4-vinylpyridine)-reduced graphene oxide-magnetite (P4VP-rGO-Fe₃O₄) organo-magnetogel (OMG), designed for high-performance pollutant adsorption. In the OMG, rGO and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles are in situ encapsulated during the chemical cross-linking of the 4-vinylpyridine polymer. The adsorption performance of OMG was evaluated using three model water pollutants, viz., organic dyes, heavy metal ions, and waterborne pathogens. The equilibrium adsorption capacity exceeded 400 mg/g for the organic dyes. Beyond dye removal, the OMG also adsorbed heavy metal ions, such as AsO 2 − , Pb²⁺, Cr 2 O 7 2−, and Cd²⁺ ions, with removal efficiencies exceeding 60% and adsorption capacities exceeding 200 mg/g. The OMG also exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. Typhi , with almost zero viability for S. Typhi . The OMG promises a broad-spectrum applicability in wastewater treatment, offering a sustainable and efficient solution for water decontamination.

Authors 11

1. Sanjeevi Prasath Sridhar

   Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India

2. Sudha Uthaman

   Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India

3. Logesh Kumar Pandurangan

   Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India

4. Armin Kriele

   Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon · Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum

   Affiliation as printed

   German Engineering Materials Science Centre (GEMS) at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon GmbH, Garching, Germany

5. Debasish Saha

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum

   Affiliation as printed

   Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-4), Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Garching, Germany

6. Baohu Wu

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum

   Affiliation as printed

   Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-4), Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Garching, Germany

7. Janaki Vembu Murugesan

   Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India

8. Vijayakumar Balachandar

   Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India

9. Stephan Förster Aachen Institute of Physical Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-1/IBI-8), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

10. Aurel Rădulescu

    Forschungszentrum Jülich · Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum

    Affiliation as printed

    Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-4), Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Garching, Germany

11. Brijitta Joseph corresponding

    Forschungszentrum Jülich · Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum · Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India

    Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-4), Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Garching, Germany