Fabrication and application of naturally sourced nano-pigments based on algal biomass in multifunctional coatings

Abstract This work aims to synthesize economical and eco-friendly naturally sourced nano-pigments with bright colors, antimicrobial activity, and thermal stability from algal cells cultivated in wastewater, which are then harvested, dried, and converted into algal biomass (AB). Algal biomass (AB) wa...

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Main Authors: Walaa M. Abd El-Gawad, Sayeda M. Abdo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97752-3
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author Walaa M. Abd El-Gawad
Sayeda M. Abdo
author_facet Walaa M. Abd El-Gawad
Sayeda M. Abdo
author_sort Walaa M. Abd El-Gawad
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This work aims to synthesize economical and eco-friendly naturally sourced nano-pigments with bright colors, antimicrobial activity, and thermal stability from algal cells cultivated in wastewater, which are then harvested, dried, and converted into algal biomass (AB). Algal biomass (AB) was covered by a very thin nano-layer of either zinc ferrite or cerium ferrite, which does not exceed 10%. After the synthesis and characterization, these nanopigments were incorporated into alkyd resin in two proportions (2.5% and 5%). The antimicrobial activity and color of the produced coatings were investigated using the disc diffusion and CIELab methods, respectively. Besides, their thermal stability was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The results of antimicrobial activity demonstrate that the effect of all coatings on fungi is greater than their effect on bacteria and that films containing 5% of nano-pigments gave an inhibition zone for microbes greater than those containing 2.5%. Additionally, the thermal stability results of the film containing algal biomass show very high weight loss, reaching 47.5% in group I and 76% in group II. While coatings containing zinc ferrite/AB and cerium ferrite/AB, weight loss doesn’t exceed 20%, and films containing 5% are the best.
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spelling doaj-art-5f753d9a6dd74cb689f12d2f84c11d142025-08-20T02:55:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115112310.1038/s41598-025-97752-3Fabrication and application of naturally sourced nano-pigments based on algal biomass in multifunctional coatingsWalaa M. Abd El-Gawad0Sayeda M. Abdo1Polymers and Pigments Department, National Research CentreWater Pollution Research Department, National Research CentreAbstract This work aims to synthesize economical and eco-friendly naturally sourced nano-pigments with bright colors, antimicrobial activity, and thermal stability from algal cells cultivated in wastewater, which are then harvested, dried, and converted into algal biomass (AB). Algal biomass (AB) was covered by a very thin nano-layer of either zinc ferrite or cerium ferrite, which does not exceed 10%. After the synthesis and characterization, these nanopigments were incorporated into alkyd resin in two proportions (2.5% and 5%). The antimicrobial activity and color of the produced coatings were investigated using the disc diffusion and CIELab methods, respectively. Besides, their thermal stability was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The results of antimicrobial activity demonstrate that the effect of all coatings on fungi is greater than their effect on bacteria and that films containing 5% of nano-pigments gave an inhibition zone for microbes greater than those containing 2.5%. Additionally, the thermal stability results of the film containing algal biomass show very high weight loss, reaching 47.5% in group I and 76% in group II. While coatings containing zinc ferrite/AB and cerium ferrite/AB, weight loss doesn’t exceed 20%, and films containing 5% are the best.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97752-3Algal biomassNaturally sourced nanopigmentsSustainable colored coatingsAntimicrobial activity and thermal stability
spellingShingle Walaa M. Abd El-Gawad
Sayeda M. Abdo
Fabrication and application of naturally sourced nano-pigments based on algal biomass in multifunctional coatings
Scientific Reports
Algal biomass
Naturally sourced nanopigments
Sustainable colored coatings
Antimicrobial activity and thermal stability
title Fabrication and application of naturally sourced nano-pigments based on algal biomass in multifunctional coatings
title_full Fabrication and application of naturally sourced nano-pigments based on algal biomass in multifunctional coatings
title_fullStr Fabrication and application of naturally sourced nano-pigments based on algal biomass in multifunctional coatings
title_full_unstemmed Fabrication and application of naturally sourced nano-pigments based on algal biomass in multifunctional coatings
title_short Fabrication and application of naturally sourced nano-pigments based on algal biomass in multifunctional coatings
title_sort fabrication and application of naturally sourced nano pigments based on algal biomass in multifunctional coatings
topic Algal biomass
Naturally sourced nanopigments
Sustainable colored coatings
Antimicrobial activity and thermal stability
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97752-3
work_keys_str_mv AT walaamabdelgawad fabricationandapplicationofnaturallysourcednanopigmentsbasedonalgalbiomassinmultifunctionalcoatings
AT sayedamabdo fabricationandapplicationofnaturallysourcednanopigmentsbasedonalgalbiomassinmultifunctionalcoatings