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Polymers
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Sustainable Polymeric Materials for Emerging Pollutants Removal
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Sustainable Polymeric Materials for Emerging Pollutants Removal

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Circular and Green Polymer Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 December 2021) | Viewed by 16989

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sabrina Carola Carroccio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CNR-IPCB, Via Paolo Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy
Interests: polymer mass spectrometry; hybrid polymeric materials; polymeric nanocomposites; polymer degradation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Martina Ussia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, IMM-CNR (c/o University of Catania), Via Santa Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: hybrid nanocomposites; graphene derivatives; photocatalysis; water purification; adsorption/desorption phenomena

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last few decades, environmental issues are posing serious threats to human health, receiving growing attention from civil society and major international organizations as well. Contamination of natural systems derives from organic and inorganic chemicals introduced into media by a large number of ancient and novel human activities. In addition to pesticides and other well-known organic pollutants, pharmaceuticals, veterinary medicines, and personal care products have been recently detected in surface water, groundwater, and also drinking water, constituting new insidious concerns. Even if present in trace amounts, the so-called emerging pollutants can cause bio-accumulative, persistent, carcinogenic, mutagenic, and detrimental effects on the survival of aquatic organisms, flora, fauna, and human health.

In light of this, the challenge to preserve water, air, and soil from environmental disasters are leading to paramount innovation in the design of novel polymeric materials, providing more and more valuable and eco-sustainable solutions. The present Special Issue on “Sustainable polymeric materials for emerging pollutants removal” aims to publish original papers and critical reviews on the realization of polymers, nanocomposites, and hybrid organic/inorganic systems to mitigate emerging pollutants effects. Methodologies to remove pollutants, materials characterization, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), recyclability and durability studies on formulated materials as well as their effects on polluted air water or soil are also welcome.

It is our pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript to this Special Issue.

Dr. Sabrina Carroccio
Dr. Martina Ussia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Sustainable polymers
  • membranes
  • hydrogels
  • Emerging pollutants
  • Pharmaceutical removal
  • Pesticides removal
  • Water treatment
  • Nano-plastics treatments
  • Adsorption
  • Photocatalysis
  • Hybrid Materials
  • photodegradation
  • Soil remediation

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 41042 KiB  
Article
Effect of Solution Viscosity on the Precipitation of PSaMA in Aqueous Phase Separation-Based Membrane Formation
by Wouter M. Nielen, Joshua D. Willott, Julia A. R. Galicia and Wiebe M. de Vos
Polymers 2021, 13(11), 1775; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13111775 - 28 May 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3377
Abstract
Aqueous phase separation (APS) is a recently developed sustainable alternative to the conventional organic solvent based nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) method to prepare polymeric membranes. In APS, polyelectrolytes are precipitated from aqueous solutions through pH or salinity switches. Although APS differs from NIPS [...] Read more.
Aqueous phase separation (APS) is a recently developed sustainable alternative to the conventional organic solvent based nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) method to prepare polymeric membranes. In APS, polyelectrolytes are precipitated from aqueous solutions through pH or salinity switches. Although APS differs from NIPS in the polymer and solvents, they share many tuning parameters. In this work, we investigate the APS-based preparation of membranes from poly(styrene-alt-maleic acid) (PSaMA) with a focus on acid concentration in the coagulation bath, and polymer and additive concentration in the casting solution. Nanofiltration membranes are prepared using significantly lower concentrations of acid: 0.3 M HCl compared to the 2 M of either acetic or phosphoric acid used in previous works. It is shown that higher polymer concentrations can be used to prevent defect formation in the top layer. In addition, acetic acid concentration also strongly affects casting solution viscosity and thus can be used to control membrane structure, where lower acetic acid concentrations can prevent the formation of macrovoids in the support structure. The prepared nanofiltration membranes exhibit a very low molecular weight cutoff (210 ± 40 dalton), making these sustainable membranes very relevant for the removal of contaminants of emerging concern. Understanding how the parameters described here affect membrane preparation and performance is essential to optimizing membranes prepared with APS towards this important application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymeric Materials for Emerging Pollutants Removal)
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18 pages, 4042 KiB  
Article
Preparation of a Novel Cellulose–Styrene Copolymer Adsorbent and Its Adsorption of Nitrobenzene from Aqueous Solutions
by Guifang Yang, Na Lin, Yuan Li, Xiaoxia Ye, Yifan Liu, Yuancai Lv, Chunxiang Lin and Minghua Liu
Polymers 2021, 13(4), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13040609 - 18 Feb 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2615
Abstract
A novel cellulose–styrene copolymer adsorbent (cellulose-St) was prepared using free radical polymerization. Successful polymerization was confirmed through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Carbon 13 Solid Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (13C NMR) Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), etc. Cellulose-St possessed good hydrophobicity, and [...] Read more.
A novel cellulose–styrene copolymer adsorbent (cellulose-St) was prepared using free radical polymerization. Successful polymerization was confirmed through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Carbon 13 Solid Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (13C NMR) Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), etc. Cellulose-St possessed good hydrophobicity, and the best water contact angle of cellulose-St samples could reach 146°. It had the ability of adsorption for nitrobenzene (NB), and the adsorption process could be well described by the pseudo-second-order (R2 > 0.99) and three-stage intraparticle diffusion (R2 > 0.99) kinetic models. Furthermore, the dynamic adsorption experiments revealed that cellulose-St had the potential for continuous separation of NB in water, and the breakthrough point for the initial NB concentration of 10 mg/L reached 1.275 L/g. Moreover, cellulose-St exhibited excellent environmental adaptability that it could maintain its hydrophobicity and adsorption ability for NB in strong acids, strong alkalis, or organic solvents. The used cellulose-St could be reused after washing with ethanol and keep almost constant adsorption capacity after ten cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymeric Materials for Emerging Pollutants Removal)
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Review

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22 pages, 7016 KiB  
Review
Removal of Dyes by Polymer-Enhanced Ultrafiltration: An Overview
by Estefanía Oyarce, Karina Roa, Andrés Boulett, Sebastián Sotelo, Plinio Cantero-López, Julio Sánchez and Bernabé L. Rivas
Polymers 2021, 13(19), 3450; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13193450 - 8 Oct 2021
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3117
Abstract
The current problem of contamination caused by colored industrial effluents has led to the development of different techniques to remove these species from water. One of them, polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF), has been systematically studied in this mini review, in which research works from [...] Read more.
The current problem of contamination caused by colored industrial effluents has led to the development of different techniques to remove these species from water. One of them, polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF), has been systematically studied in this mini review, in which research works from 1971 to date were found and analyzed. Dye retention rates of up to 99% were obtained in several cases. In addition, a brief discussion of different parameters, such as pH, interfering salts, type of polymer, dye concentration, and membrane type, and their influence in dye removal is presented. It was concluded from the above that these factors can be adapted depending on the pollutant to be remediated, in order to optimize the process. Finally, theoretical approaches have been used to understand the intermolecular interactions, and development of the studied technique. In this revision, it is possible to observe that molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, density functional theory calculations, and hybrid neural-genetic algorithms based on an evolutionary approach are the most usual approximations used for this purpose. Herein, there is a detailed discussion about what was carried out in order to contribute to the research development of this important science field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymeric Materials for Emerging Pollutants Removal)
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39 pages, 23961 KiB  
Review
Adsorption of Uranium, Mercury, and Rare Earth Elements from Aqueous Solutions onto Magnetic Chitosan Adsorbents: A Review
by Georgia Michailidou, Ioanna Koumentakou, Efstathios V. Liakos, Maria Lazaridou, Dimitra A. Lambropoulou, Dimitrios N. Bikiaris and George Z. Kyzas
Polymers 2021, 13(18), 3137; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13183137 - 16 Sep 2021
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3986
Abstract
The compound of chitin is the second most important and abundant natural biopolymer in the world. The main extraction and exploitation sources of this natural polysaccharide polymer are mainly crustaceans species, such as shrimps and crabs. Chitosan (CS) (poly-β-(1 → 4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose) can be derived from [...] Read more.
The compound of chitin is the second most important and abundant natural biopolymer in the world. The main extraction and exploitation sources of this natural polysaccharide polymer are mainly crustaceans species, such as shrimps and crabs. Chitosan (CS) (poly-β-(1 → 4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose) can be derived from chitin and can be mentioned as a compound that has high value-added applications due to its wide variety of uses, including pharmaceutical, biomedical, and cosmetics applications, food etc. Furthermore, chitosan is a biopolymer that can be used for adsorption applications because it contains amino and hydroxyl groups in its chemical structure (molecules), resulting in possible interactions of adsorption between chitosan and pollutants (uranium, mercury, rare earth elements (REEs), phenols, etc.). However, adsorption is a very effective, fast, simple, and low-cost process. This review article places emphasis on recent demonstrated research papers (2014–2020) where the chemical modifications of CS are explained briefly (grafting, cross-linking etc.) for the uptake of uranium, mercury, and REEs in synthesized aqueous solutions. Finally, figures and tables from selected synthetic routes of CS are presented and the effects of pH and the best mathematical fitting of isotherm and kinetic equations are discussed. In addition, the adsorption mechanisms are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymeric Materials for Emerging Pollutants Removal)
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22 pages, 6384 KiB  
Review
Innovative Polymeric Hybrid Nanocomposites for Application in Photocatalysis
by Maria Cantarella, Giuliana Impellizzeri, Alessandro Di Mauro, Vittorio Privitera and Sabrina Carola Carroccio
Polymers 2021, 13(8), 1184; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13081184 - 7 Apr 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2664
Abstract
The immobilization of inorganic nanomaterials on polymeric substrates has been drawing a lot of attention in recent years owing to the extraordinary properties of the as-obtained materials. The hybrid materials, indeed, combine the benefits of the plastic matter such as flexibility, low-cost, mechanical [...] Read more.
The immobilization of inorganic nanomaterials on polymeric substrates has been drawing a lot of attention in recent years owing to the extraordinary properties of the as-obtained materials. The hybrid materials, indeed, combine the benefits of the plastic matter such as flexibility, low-cost, mechanical stability and high durability, with them deriving from their inorganic counterparts. In particular, if the inorganic fillers are nanostructured photocatalysts, the originated hybrid systems will be able to utilize the energy delivered by light, catalysing chemical reactions in a sustainable pathway. Most importantly, since the nanofillers can be ad-hoc anchored to the macromolecular structure, their release in the environment will be prevented, thus overcoming one of the main restrictions that impedes their applications on a large scale. In this review, several typologies of hybrid photocatalytic nanomaterials, obtained by using both organic and inorganic semiconductors and realized with different synthetic protocols, were reported and discussed. In the first part of the manuscript, nanocomposites realized by simply blending the TiO2 or ZnO nanomaterials in thermoplastic polymeric matrices are illustrated. Subsequently, the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique is presented as an excellent method to formulate polymeric nanocomposites. Successively, some examples of polyporphyrins hybrid systems containing graphene, acting as photocatalysts under visible light irradiation, are discussed. Lastly, photocatalytic polymeric nanosponges, with extraordinary adsorption properties, are shown. All the described materials were deeply characterized and their photocatalytic abilities were evaluated by the degradation of several organic water pollutants such as dyes, phenol, pesticides, drugs, and personal care products. The antibacterial performance was also evaluated for selected systems. The relevance of the obtained results is widely overviewed, opening the route for the application of such multifunctional photocatalytic hybrid materials in wastewater remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Polymeric Materials for Emerging Pollutants Removal)
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