Gum-based nanocomposites for the removal of metals and dyes from waste water

Abstract

The importance of water for all living organisms is unquestionable and protecting its sources is crucial. In order to reduce water contaminants, like toxic metals and organic dyes, researchers are exploring different techniques, such as adsorption, photocatalytic degradation, and electrolysis. Novel materials are also being sought. In particular, biopolymers like guar gum and xanthan gum, that are eco-friendly, non-toxic, reusable, abundant and cost-effective, have enormous potential. Gum-based nanocomposites can be prepared and used for removing heavy metals and colored dyes by adsorption and degradation, respectively. This review explains the significance of gum-based nanomaterials in waste water treatment, including preparative steps, characterization techniques, kinetics models, and the degradation and adsorption mechanisms involved.

Keywords: Adsorption; Degradation; Guar gum; Gum-based nanomaterials; Waste water treatment; Xanthan gum.

Fig. 1

Water purification techniques

Fig. 2

Structure of guar gum

Fig. 3

Applications of guar gum

Fig. 4

Co-precipitation method

Fig. 5

Polymerization technique

Fig. 6

Two types of sol-gel technique

Fig. 7

Preparation of GG-g-Poly(Am-co-AA) nanocomposite by a microwave-assisted technique (redrawn from (Gihar et al. 2021))

Fig. 8

TGA curves of graphene oxide/guar gum/CuO (reprinted from (Akbarzadeh et al. 2023) with permission from Elsevier)

Fig. 9

SEM images of Pc-cl-GG/SPION at different magnification (reprinted from (Sharma et al. 2017) with permission from Elsevier)

Fig. 10

Vibrating sample magnetometer and its main components

Fig. 11

a FTIR spectra of (i) guar gum, (ii) GG-Fe₃O₄, and (iii) reused GG-Fe₃O₄; b PXRD of (i) GG, (ii) GG-Fe₃O₄, and (iii) reused GG-Fe₃O₄ (reprinted from (Kumar et al. 2022b) with permission from Springer)