PVA-TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanocomposite Hydrogel as Immobilization Carrier for Gas-to-Liquid Wastewater Treatment
This study investigates the development of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel matrices for biomass immobilization in wastewater treatment. The PVA hydrogels were prepared through a freezing–thawing (F-T) cross-linking process and reinforced with high surface area nanoparticles to improve their mechanical s...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/3/249 |
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| author | Riham Surkatti Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein Muftah H. El-Naas |
| author_facet | Riham Surkatti Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein Muftah H. El-Naas |
| author_sort | Riham Surkatti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the development of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel matrices for biomass immobilization in wastewater treatment. The PVA hydrogels were prepared through a freezing–thawing (F-T) cross-linking process and reinforced with high surface area nanoparticles to improve their mechanical stability and porosity. The PVA/nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared using two different nanoparticle materials: iron oxide (Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and titanium oxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>). The effects of the metal oxide nanoparticle type and content on the pore structure, hydrogel bonding, and mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the cross-linked hydrogel composites were investigated. The most durable PVA/nanoparticles matrix was then tested in the bioreactor for the biological treatment of wastewater. Morphological analysis showed that the reinforcement of PVA gel with Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles resulted in a compact nanocomposite hydrogel with regular pore distribution. The FTIR analysis highlighted the formation of bonds between nanoparticles and hydrogel, which caused more interaction within the polymeric matrix. Furthermore, the mechanical strength and Young’s modulus of the hydrogel composites were found to depend on the type and content of the nanoparticles. The most remarkable improvement in the mechanical strength of the PVA/nanoparticles composites was obtained by incorporating 0.1 wt% TiO<sub>2</sub> and 1.0 wt% Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles. However, TiO<sub>2</sub> showed more influence on the mechanical strength, with more than 900% improvement in Young’s modulus for TiO<sub>2</sub>-reinforced PVA hydrogel. Furthermore, incorporating TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles enhanced hydrogel stability but did not affect the biodegradation of organic pollutants in wastewater. These results suggest that the PVA-TiO<sub>2</sub> hydrogel has the potential to be used as an effective carrier for biomass immobilization and wastewater treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:51:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-36442f2f9ded4adc8c1d7758ccc83eda |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:51:31Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-36442f2f9ded4adc8c1d7758ccc83eda2024-02-09T15:19:19ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912024-01-0114324910.3390/nano14030249PVA-TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanocomposite Hydrogel as Immobilization Carrier for Gas-to-Liquid Wastewater TreatmentRiham Surkatti0Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht1Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein2Muftah H. El-Naas3Gas Processing Center, Qatar University, Doha 2713, QatarDepartment of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CD Delft, The NetherlandsGas Processing Center, Qatar University, Doha 2713, QatarGas Processing Center, Qatar University, Doha 2713, QatarThis study investigates the development of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel matrices for biomass immobilization in wastewater treatment. The PVA hydrogels were prepared through a freezing–thawing (F-T) cross-linking process and reinforced with high surface area nanoparticles to improve their mechanical stability and porosity. The PVA/nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared using two different nanoparticle materials: iron oxide (Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and titanium oxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>). The effects of the metal oxide nanoparticle type and content on the pore structure, hydrogel bonding, and mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the cross-linked hydrogel composites were investigated. The most durable PVA/nanoparticles matrix was then tested in the bioreactor for the biological treatment of wastewater. Morphological analysis showed that the reinforcement of PVA gel with Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles resulted in a compact nanocomposite hydrogel with regular pore distribution. The FTIR analysis highlighted the formation of bonds between nanoparticles and hydrogel, which caused more interaction within the polymeric matrix. Furthermore, the mechanical strength and Young’s modulus of the hydrogel composites were found to depend on the type and content of the nanoparticles. The most remarkable improvement in the mechanical strength of the PVA/nanoparticles composites was obtained by incorporating 0.1 wt% TiO<sub>2</sub> and 1.0 wt% Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles. However, TiO<sub>2</sub> showed more influence on the mechanical strength, with more than 900% improvement in Young’s modulus for TiO<sub>2</sub>-reinforced PVA hydrogel. Furthermore, incorporating TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles enhanced hydrogel stability but did not affect the biodegradation of organic pollutants in wastewater. These results suggest that the PVA-TiO<sub>2</sub> hydrogel has the potential to be used as an effective carrier for biomass immobilization and wastewater treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/3/249polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)nano-gelporositycompression strengthbiomasswater purification |
| spellingShingle | Riham Surkatti Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein Muftah H. El-Naas PVA-TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanocomposite Hydrogel as Immobilization Carrier for Gas-to-Liquid Wastewater Treatment Nanomaterials polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nano-gel porosity compression strength biomass water purification |
| title | PVA-TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanocomposite Hydrogel as Immobilization Carrier for Gas-to-Liquid Wastewater Treatment |
| title_full | PVA-TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanocomposite Hydrogel as Immobilization Carrier for Gas-to-Liquid Wastewater Treatment |
| title_fullStr | PVA-TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanocomposite Hydrogel as Immobilization Carrier for Gas-to-Liquid Wastewater Treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | PVA-TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanocomposite Hydrogel as Immobilization Carrier for Gas-to-Liquid Wastewater Treatment |
| title_short | PVA-TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanocomposite Hydrogel as Immobilization Carrier for Gas-to-Liquid Wastewater Treatment |
| title_sort | pva tio sub 2 sub nanocomposite hydrogel as immobilization carrier for gas to liquid wastewater treatment |
| topic | polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nano-gel porosity compression strength biomass water purification |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/3/249 |
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