Page 503 - Polymer-based Nanocomposites for Energy and Environmental Applications

456 Polymer-based Nanocomposites for Energy and Environmental Applications

154.3 mg/g [100]. Bacterial cellulose (BC) showed a relatively low adsorption capac-
ity [3]. Therefore, the surface modification of BC is necessary in order to enhance its
adsorption capacity. Different BCs [101] were used as adsorbents for the elimination
of Pb(II), Cu(II), Cr(VI), and Cd(II).

16.5.2.5 Cellulose-based nanocomposites for water treatment
Nanocomposites actually consist multiphase materials in which at least one constitu-
ent phase possessed one dimension in the nanometer range (1–100 nm). These mate-
rials are acknowledged because of their barrier, mechanical and superior thermal
properties, and their good recyclability against conventional composite materials
[102]. The nanocellulose-based bionanocomposite materials used for water treatment
are presented in Table 16.2.
Nanoscale cellulose fiber materials, such as nanofibrilled, microfibrillated, and
BC, are excellent applicants for bionanocomposite development due to their unbeat-
able properties like high strength, abundance and low weight, stiffness, and
biodegradabity. Nanocomposite material characteristics depend on the addition of
their distinct constituents and on structural and interfacial properties emerging from
the combination of different materials. Therefore, the use of polymers such as cellu-
lose, dextran, starch, alginate, carrageenan, and chitosan attracted huge attention
because of their renewable nature and biodegradability, also a numerous combination
is expected to depend on the predicted functionality [103].
Cellulose nanofibril was covered with magnetic nanoparticles that are uniformly
distributed on the nanofibril. In this way, these materials showed both biological
and mechanical properties of nanocellulose, which thereby increases due to magnetic
nanoparticle characteristics [104]. The spherical Fe 3 O 4 /BC nanocomposites had high
adsorption capacities toward Pb(II), Mn(II), and Cr(III) and found recyclable after the
elimination of heavy metal ions [45]. Spherical Fe 3 O 4 /BC nanocomposites can be
easily developed without sophisticated steps as compared with conventional prepara-
tion method for cellulose spheres, and this spherical composite material has high
adsorption and elution capacities. Composite hydrogels from cellulose and other
biopolymers have been synthesized by blending, complex formation, and inter-
penetrating networks technology [105]. Biodegradable collagen/cellulose hydrogel
beads (CCHBs) were studied [46]. The maximum adsorption capability of CCHB3
(collagen/cellulose mass ratio of 3:1) was found 63.6 mg/g. PVA was also studied
for synthesis of hydrogel by cross-linking it with several methods [50].
+
Butylmethylimidazolium chloride (Bmim Cl ) IL was employed as the solitary sol-

vent for the dissolution and formation of the composites. Chitin/cellulose composite
membranes demonstrated the effective elimination of heavy metal ions from an aque-
ous solution due to their microporous structure, large surface area and affinity for
metal ions [47]. The elimination efficiency of the heavy metal ions on chitin/cellulose
blend membranes enhanced with the chitin content. Nanocellulose acetate has been
applied as composite material together with zirconium (IV) phosphate and zeolite
for the elimination of heavy metals from aqueous solutions [44].