| Title: |
PEF/rPET-starch hydrogels from recycled sources for wastewater treatment |
| Authors: |
Bonora, Eugenia; Kongseng, Piyawan; Cerqua, Simon; Perego, Camilla; Principi, Pamela; Chantarak, Sirinya; Brändli, Christof |
| Source: |
Nordic Polymer Days 2025, Trondheim, Norway, 11-13 June 2025 |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Collection: |
ZHAW digitalcollection (Repository of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences) |
| Subject Terms: |
info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/660 |
| Description: |
The increasing presence of organic pollutants such as dyes, emerging contaminants (ECs), and antibiotics in water poses a global environmental threat. This study explores the development of sustainable hydrogels from recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (rPET) and bio-based poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) for wastewater remediation. rPET and PEF were depolymerized using diamines and crosslinked with materials like starch and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to form hydrophilic 3D networks with high water uptake. By varying the PEF:starch:PVA ratios, materials with tailored properties were obtained. Dyes were selected as model pollutants to evaluate adsorption performance, serving as a benchmark for other organic contaminants such as antibiotics. Both rPET- and PEF-based hydrogels demonstrated strong affinity for cationic and anionic dyes, confirming their suitability for broad-spectrum pollutant removal. Notably, PEF-based hydrogels support microbial growth, potentially enhancing adsorption through bioaugmentation. This synergy between physical adsorption and microbial activity could improve removal efficiency for ECs. The hydrogels' adsorption and mechanical properties can be tuned through chemical modification. Importantly, they retained structural integrity after multiple adsorption-desorption cycles, confirming their reusability. Characterization techniques included NMR, GPC, DSC, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and swelling ratio measurements. The combination of high adsorption efficiency, reusability, and compatibility with microbial activity highlights the promise of these hydrogels for wastewater treatment. Furthermore, this work supports PET waste upcycling and bio-based polymer use, aligning with circular economy principles while addressing urgent environmental challenges. |
| Document Type: |
conference object |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
https://hdl.handle.net/11475/34775; https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/34775 |
| Availability: |
https://hdl.handle.net/11475/34775; https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/34775 |
| Rights: |
Not specified |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.42571387 |
| Database: |
BASE |