Fabrication of glutaraldehyde crosslinked chitosan/algae biomaterial via hydrothermal process: Statistical optimization and adsorption mechanism for MV 2B dye removal

• Published in: BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
• Main Authors: Agha, Hasan M.; Abdulhameed, Ahmed Saud; Jawad, Ali H.; Alothman, Zeid A.; Wilson, Lee D.; Algburi, Sameer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG 2025
• Subjects: Energy & Fuels; Engineering
• Online Access: https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001394493200078

A cross-linked chitosan-glutaraldehyde/algae (CHS-GTD/AL) composite was synthesized through a two-step process. Firstly, the natural biopolymer chitosan (CHS) was functionalized with algae (AL), introducing additional functional groups to the pristine chitosan. Then, a cross-linking process was carried out using glutaraldehyde (GTD). The resulting CHS-GTD/AL composite demonstrated excellent adsorption properties for methyl violet 2B (MV 2B) dye removal from aqueous solutions. The adsorption behavior of MV 2B by CHS-GTD/AL was extensively investigated using Box-Behnken design (BBD), considering the key factors influencing the adsorption process: CHS-GTD/AL dose (0.02 to 0.1 g/100 mL), time (10 to 180 min), and pH (4 to 10). The equilibrium adsorption of MV 2B by CHS-GTD/AL was well-described by the Freundlich isotherm model. The kinetics of MV 2B adsorption by CHS-GTD/AL followed a pseudo-second-order model, suggesting chemisorption as the rate-limiting step. The adsorption capacity of CHS-GTD/AL for MV 2B was determined to be 123.2 mg/g. The effective adsorption of MV 2B on CHS-GTD/AL can be attributed to the electrostatic forces between the positively charged CHS-GTD/AL and the MV 2B anions, as well as interactions such as n-pi and H-bonding. Regeneration study indicated that the CHS-GTD/AL could successfully adsorb MV 2B, even after five cycles. The present work reveals the remarkable potential of CHS-GTD/AL as an excellent adsorbent for the removal of synthetic dyes from wastewater.