Biodegradable waste-derived cellulose/nylon-6-coated iron-oxide nanocomposite encapsulated with chitosan for enhanced wastewater treatment

The growing threats of water scarcity, climate change, and waste accumulation necessitate innovative solutions, including the transformation of solid waste into sustainable new materials through recycling technologies. This study prepared a low-cost, superior and biodegradable polymeric material mad...

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Main Authors: Evans Suter, H.L Rutto, I.G Mkhize
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Cleaner Chemical Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772782325000452
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author Evans Suter
H.L Rutto
I.G Mkhize
author_facet Evans Suter
H.L Rutto
I.G Mkhize
author_sort Evans Suter
collection DOAJ
description The growing threats of water scarcity, climate change, and waste accumulation necessitate innovative solutions, including the transformation of solid waste into sustainable new materials through recycling technologies. This study prepared a low-cost, superior and biodegradable polymeric material made of cellulose nanocrystals from waste paper and pulp sludge, nylon-6 waste, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, and chitosan. The nanocomposite membrane presented saturation magnetization of 26.90 emu/g, significantly lower than magnetic saturation (Ms) of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4). This resulted from the addition of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), nylon 6 (N6), and Chitosan (CT), as confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the ultra-permeable membrane had highly porous surfaces. Brunauer Emmet Teller (BET) demonstrated that the addition of chitosan and Fe3O4 boosted nitrogen adsorption. The isoelectric point (IEP) pH at zero point charge (pHPZC) of magnetized cellulose nanocrystals/nylon 6 nanocomposite membrane encapsulated with chitosan (CNCs/N6@Fe3O4CT) was 7.9 due to the hydroxyl groups on the amphoteric surface that react with bases or acids to create a pHPZC that is extremely near to neutral. The nanocomposite presented a larger swelling ratio of 168.24 g/g than precursor materials. The membrane demonstrated excellent rejection efficiency, initiating at approximately 98 %. The resulting nanocomposite membrane's remarkable water permeability, porosity, good rejection, and flux, even at low pressure, offers a potential for water treatment and air filtration applications.
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spelling doaj-art-a963e9a5bb8e4c8a9ac97a650f637cd02025-08-20T03:51:25ZengElsevierCleaner Chemical Engineering2772-78232025-12-011110019010.1016/j.clce.2025.100190Biodegradable waste-derived cellulose/nylon-6-coated iron-oxide nanocomposite encapsulated with chitosan for enhanced wastewater treatmentEvans Suter0H.L Rutto1I.G Mkhize2Department of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy, Vaal University of Technology. Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark 1900 Andries Potgeiter Blvd, South Africa; Corresponding author.Department of Chemical Engineering, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South AfricaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South AfricaThe growing threats of water scarcity, climate change, and waste accumulation necessitate innovative solutions, including the transformation of solid waste into sustainable new materials through recycling technologies. This study prepared a low-cost, superior and biodegradable polymeric material made of cellulose nanocrystals from waste paper and pulp sludge, nylon-6 waste, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, and chitosan. The nanocomposite membrane presented saturation magnetization of 26.90 emu/g, significantly lower than magnetic saturation (Ms) of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4). This resulted from the addition of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), nylon 6 (N6), and Chitosan (CT), as confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the ultra-permeable membrane had highly porous surfaces. Brunauer Emmet Teller (BET) demonstrated that the addition of chitosan and Fe3O4 boosted nitrogen adsorption. The isoelectric point (IEP) pH at zero point charge (pHPZC) of magnetized cellulose nanocrystals/nylon 6 nanocomposite membrane encapsulated with chitosan (CNCs/N6@Fe3O4CT) was 7.9 due to the hydroxyl groups on the amphoteric surface that react with bases or acids to create a pHPZC that is extremely near to neutral. The nanocomposite presented a larger swelling ratio of 168.24 g/g than precursor materials. The membrane demonstrated excellent rejection efficiency, initiating at approximately 98 %. The resulting nanocomposite membrane's remarkable water permeability, porosity, good rejection, and flux, even at low pressure, offers a potential for water treatment and air filtration applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772782325000452NanocompositePolymersCellulose nanocrystalsNylon 6EncapsulationFiltration
spellingShingle Evans Suter
H.L Rutto
I.G Mkhize
Biodegradable waste-derived cellulose/nylon-6-coated iron-oxide nanocomposite encapsulated with chitosan for enhanced wastewater treatment
Cleaner Chemical Engineering
Nanocomposite
Polymers
Cellulose nanocrystals
Nylon 6
Encapsulation
Filtration
title Biodegradable waste-derived cellulose/nylon-6-coated iron-oxide nanocomposite encapsulated with chitosan for enhanced wastewater treatment
title_full Biodegradable waste-derived cellulose/nylon-6-coated iron-oxide nanocomposite encapsulated with chitosan for enhanced wastewater treatment
title_fullStr Biodegradable waste-derived cellulose/nylon-6-coated iron-oxide nanocomposite encapsulated with chitosan for enhanced wastewater treatment
title_full_unstemmed Biodegradable waste-derived cellulose/nylon-6-coated iron-oxide nanocomposite encapsulated with chitosan for enhanced wastewater treatment
title_short Biodegradable waste-derived cellulose/nylon-6-coated iron-oxide nanocomposite encapsulated with chitosan for enhanced wastewater treatment
title_sort biodegradable waste derived cellulose nylon 6 coated iron oxide nanocomposite encapsulated with chitosan for enhanced wastewater treatment
topic Nanocomposite
Polymers
Cellulose nanocrystals
Nylon 6
Encapsulation
Filtration
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772782325000452
work_keys_str_mv AT evanssuter biodegradablewastederivedcellulosenylon6coatedironoxidenanocompositeencapsulatedwithchitosanforenhancedwastewatertreatment
AT hlrutto biodegradablewastederivedcellulosenylon6coatedironoxidenanocompositeencapsulatedwithchitosanforenhancedwastewatertreatment
AT igmkhize biodegradablewastederivedcellulosenylon6coatedironoxidenanocompositeencapsulatedwithchitosanforenhancedwastewatertreatment