A novel synergistic and eco-friendly approach for efficient crude oil removal from water using ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanostructure and spirulina algae

Abstract This study highlights the effectiveness of a ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanocomposite as an eco-friendly adsorbent for removing naphthalene from water. Synthesized via calcination, co-precipitation, and hydrothermal methods, the composite integrates ZnO nanoparticles, g-C3N4 nanosheets, and chitos...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Solat Gandomi Niyat, Fariba Zamani Hargalani, Mozhgan Emtyazjoo, Fatemeh Yazdian, Ali Mashinchian Moradi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15117-2
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849344528914317312
author Solat Gandomi Niyat
Fariba Zamani Hargalani
Mozhgan Emtyazjoo
Fatemeh Yazdian
Ali Mashinchian Moradi
author_facet Solat Gandomi Niyat
Fariba Zamani Hargalani
Mozhgan Emtyazjoo
Fatemeh Yazdian
Ali Mashinchian Moradi
author_sort Solat Gandomi Niyat
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study highlights the effectiveness of a ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanocomposite as an eco-friendly adsorbent for removing naphthalene from water. Synthesized via calcination, co-precipitation, and hydrothermal methods, the composite integrates ZnO nanoparticles, g-C3N4 nanosheets, and chitosan to create a material with synergistic adsorption properties. Structural analyses (FTIR, XRD, FESEM, TEM, BET) confirmed its mesoporous nature, with a surface area of 1.33 m2/g and average pore size of 11.92 nm. Despite a slight reduction in surface area caused by chitosan incorporation, the nanocomposite achieved a maximum removal efficiency of 90% and an adsorption capacity of 9.87 mg/g under optimal conditions (pH 6.8, adsorbent dosage of 81 mg/L, initial naphthalene concentration of 5 mg/L, and contact time of 180 min. The Langmuir model (R2 > 0.97) indicated monolayer adsorption, while thermodynamic parameters confirmed an exothermic and spontaneous process. Kinetic modeling favored the pseudo-first-order model, suggesting physical adsorption dominates. Although the performance declined in seawater (39%), it improved to 50% with the addition of Spirulina algae, and achieved over 99% in synthetic solutions. Regeneration tests showed chemical methods were more effective than thermal approaches across six cycles. Overall, the nanocomposite demonstrates suitable potential for naphthalene and PAH remediation, though further enhancement is needed for real-world water treatment applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-e7e387b668ff4d9a89877cdd7679cc64
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-e7e387b668ff4d9a89877cdd7679cc642025-08-20T03:42:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115112810.1038/s41598-025-15117-2A novel synergistic and eco-friendly approach for efficient crude oil removal from water using ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanostructure and spirulina algaeSolat Gandomi Niyat0Fariba Zamani Hargalani1Mozhgan Emtyazjoo2Fatemeh Yazdian3Ali Mashinchian Moradi4Department of natural resources and environment, SR.C, Islamic Azad UniversityDepartment of natural resources and environment, SR.C, Islamic Azad UniversityNorth Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad UniversityFaculty of New Science and Technology, University of TehranDepartment of natural resources and environment, SR.C, Islamic Azad UniversityAbstract This study highlights the effectiveness of a ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanocomposite as an eco-friendly adsorbent for removing naphthalene from water. Synthesized via calcination, co-precipitation, and hydrothermal methods, the composite integrates ZnO nanoparticles, g-C3N4 nanosheets, and chitosan to create a material with synergistic adsorption properties. Structural analyses (FTIR, XRD, FESEM, TEM, BET) confirmed its mesoporous nature, with a surface area of 1.33 m2/g and average pore size of 11.92 nm. Despite a slight reduction in surface area caused by chitosan incorporation, the nanocomposite achieved a maximum removal efficiency of 90% and an adsorption capacity of 9.87 mg/g under optimal conditions (pH 6.8, adsorbent dosage of 81 mg/L, initial naphthalene concentration of 5 mg/L, and contact time of 180 min. The Langmuir model (R2 > 0.97) indicated monolayer adsorption, while thermodynamic parameters confirmed an exothermic and spontaneous process. Kinetic modeling favored the pseudo-first-order model, suggesting physical adsorption dominates. Although the performance declined in seawater (39%), it improved to 50% with the addition of Spirulina algae, and achieved over 99% in synthetic solutions. Regeneration tests showed chemical methods were more effective than thermal approaches across six cycles. Overall, the nanocomposite demonstrates suitable potential for naphthalene and PAH remediation, though further enhancement is needed for real-world water treatment applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15117-2Naphthalene removalAdsorption kineticsResponse surface methodologyBiopolymer-based adsorbentMarine pollution remediation
spellingShingle Solat Gandomi Niyat
Fariba Zamani Hargalani
Mozhgan Emtyazjoo
Fatemeh Yazdian
Ali Mashinchian Moradi
A novel synergistic and eco-friendly approach for efficient crude oil removal from water using ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanostructure and spirulina algae
Scientific Reports
Naphthalene removal
Adsorption kinetics
Response surface methodology
Biopolymer-based adsorbent
Marine pollution remediation
title A novel synergistic and eco-friendly approach for efficient crude oil removal from water using ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanostructure and spirulina algae
title_full A novel synergistic and eco-friendly approach for efficient crude oil removal from water using ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanostructure and spirulina algae
title_fullStr A novel synergistic and eco-friendly approach for efficient crude oil removal from water using ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanostructure and spirulina algae
title_full_unstemmed A novel synergistic and eco-friendly approach for efficient crude oil removal from water using ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanostructure and spirulina algae
title_short A novel synergistic and eco-friendly approach for efficient crude oil removal from water using ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanostructure and spirulina algae
title_sort novel synergistic and eco friendly approach for efficient crude oil removal from water using zno g c3n4 chitosan nanostructure and spirulina algae
topic Naphthalene removal
Adsorption kinetics
Response surface methodology
Biopolymer-based adsorbent
Marine pollution remediation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15117-2
work_keys_str_mv AT solatgandominiyat anovelsynergisticandecofriendlyapproachforefficientcrudeoilremovalfromwaterusingznogc3n4chitosannanostructureandspirulinaalgae
AT faribazamanihargalani anovelsynergisticandecofriendlyapproachforefficientcrudeoilremovalfromwaterusingznogc3n4chitosannanostructureandspirulinaalgae
AT mozhganemtyazjoo anovelsynergisticandecofriendlyapproachforefficientcrudeoilremovalfromwaterusingznogc3n4chitosannanostructureandspirulinaalgae
AT fatemehyazdian anovelsynergisticandecofriendlyapproachforefficientcrudeoilremovalfromwaterusingznogc3n4chitosannanostructureandspirulinaalgae
AT alimashinchianmoradi anovelsynergisticandecofriendlyapproachforefficientcrudeoilremovalfromwaterusingznogc3n4chitosannanostructureandspirulinaalgae
AT solatgandominiyat novelsynergisticandecofriendlyapproachforefficientcrudeoilremovalfromwaterusingznogc3n4chitosannanostructureandspirulinaalgae
AT faribazamanihargalani novelsynergisticandecofriendlyapproachforefficientcrudeoilremovalfromwaterusingznogc3n4chitosannanostructureandspirulinaalgae
AT mozhganemtyazjoo novelsynergisticandecofriendlyapproachforefficientcrudeoilremovalfromwaterusingznogc3n4chitosannanostructureandspirulinaalgae
AT fatemehyazdian novelsynergisticandecofriendlyapproachforefficientcrudeoilremovalfromwaterusingznogc3n4chitosannanostructureandspirulinaalgae
AT alimashinchianmoradi novelsynergisticandecofriendlyapproachforefficientcrudeoilremovalfromwaterusingznogc3n4chitosannanostructureandspirulinaalgae