Development of biodegradable porous starch hydrogels containing modified nanocellulose or nanoclays for the removal and recovery of metals in contaminated water

• Grant number: 22/11133-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2022
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Derval dos Santos Rosa
• Grantee: Talles Barcelos da Costa
• Host Institution: Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (CECS). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/13703-3 - Environmentally friendly porous materials for the recovery and revaluation of metals reclaimed from contaminated water, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/11783-8 - Composite starch hydrogels for sorption of potentially toxic elements in contaminated water: synergistic interaction between selective ligands in modified nanocellulose, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Currently the world faces difficulties related to the quantity and quality of water due to industrial expansion, population growth, and urbanization intensification. Toxic metals are widely used in various industrial activities and are often found in wastewater. The presence of these metals in water resources is related to risks to human health and the environment. The recovery and revaluation of metals present in contaminated water is essential for cleaner production in a circular economy perspective. Adsorption is considered an alternative technology with high potential for removal and recovery of these elements at low concentrations. The application of nanostructured adsorbents, such as biodegradable porous hydrogels, can increase the adsorption capacity of these metals. In order to improve the effect of polymeric hydrogels and optimize their properties, low-cost and ecologically correct methodologies have been studied, analyzed by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and applicable on a large scale. This project proposes the development of biodegradable nanocomposite hydrogels of starch containing nanocellulose or nanoclays modified for adsorption and desorption of metallic contaminants (Cd2+, Cr6+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Zn2+) in aqueous medium. For the synthesis of nanocomposites, we intend to use an innovative methodology to evaluate the effect of crosslinking agent concentrations, process parameters (preparation time, temperature, crosslinking time), and the influence of different nanoparticles (cellulose and clay) without and with modification. Nanoparticles and hydrogel systems will be investigated regarding their chemical composition, mechanical properties, porosity, adsorption and desorption capacity of metallic contaminants. The biodegradation and ecotoxicity of hydrogels will be characterized after use/reuse cycles to describe the biodegradation mechanism and the influence of residual metals throughout the decomposition process. Thus, this project aims to develop modified porous hydrogels with high capacity for treatment and metals recovery from contaminated water, as well as the reuse of these nanocomposites developed post-consumer for applications in agricultural soil, mitigating the environmental impacts associated with the disposal of these materials.

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

COSTA, TALLES B.; MATIAS, PEDRO M. C.; SHARMA, MOHIT; MURTINHO, DINA; ROSA, DERVAL S.; VALENTE, ARTUR J. M.. Recent Advances on Starch-Based Adsorbents for Heavy Metal and Emerging Pollutant Remediation. POLYMERS, v. 17, n. 1, p. 37-pg., 2025-01-01. (23/11783-8, 22/11133-0, 20/13703-3)

DA COSTA, TALLES B.; CAMANI, PAULO H.; FERREIRA, RAFAELA R.; BARBOSA, RENNAN F. S.; ROSA, DERVAL DOS S.. Enhancing Corn Starch Hydrogels for Effective Sorption of Potentially Toxic Metals: The Role of Amylose and Amylopectin Content. JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, v. 33, n. 3, p. 21-pg., 2025-01-25. (22/01382-3, 19/16301-6, 24/08105-0, 21/08296-2, 22/11133-0, 23/11783-8, 24/15696-5, 20/13703-3, 23/11229-0)

SILVA, MARCELO BRUNO DE OLIVEIRA; COSTA, TALLES BARCELOS DA; CAMANI, PAULO HENRIQUE; ROSA, DERVAL DOS SANTOS. Chitosan-based foam composites for hexavalent chromium remediation: Effect of microcellulose and crosslinking agent content. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 264, p. 12-pg., 2024-03-01. (20/13703-3, 23/11229-0, 22/11133-0, 23/11783-8, 19/16301-6)

MAZUR, LUCIANA PRAZERES; FERREIRA, RAFAELA REIS; BARBOSA, RENNAN FELIX DA SILVA; SANTOS, PEDRO HENRIQUE; DA COSTA, TALLES BARCELOS; VIEIRA, MELISSA GURGEL ADEODATO; DA SILVA, ADRIANO; ROSA, DERVAL DOS SANTOS; MEI, LUCIA HELENA INNOCENTINI. Development of novel biopolymer membranes by electrospinning as potential adsorbents for toxic metal ions removal from aqueous solution. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS, v. 395, p. 19-pg., 2023-12-21. (20/13703-3, 21/14714-1, 21/08296-2, 22/11133-0, 22/06829-6, 22/01382-3)

FERREIRA, RAFAELA REIS; DA COSTA, TALLES BARCELOS; BARBOSA, RENNAN FELIX DA SILVA; CAMANI, PAULO HENRIQUE; MENEZES, ROMUALDO RODRIGUES; ROSA, DERVAL DOS SANTOS. Brazilian clays as natural cation exchangers for copper sorption in a batch system. ADSORPTION-JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ADSORPTION SOCIETY, v. 30, n. 8, p. 21-pg., 2024-09-26. (20/13703-3, 21/14714-1, 24/08105-0, 23/11229-0, 21/08296-2, 22/11133-0, 23/11783-8, 19/16301-6, 22/01382-3)

GONCALVES, LUCAS R.; FERREIRA, RAFAELA R.; SOUZA, ALANA G.; BARBOSA, RENNAN F. S.; DA COSTA, TALLES B.; ROSA, DERVAL S.. Development of lignin biochar and its incorporation in cellulose hydrogels for water decontamination. POLYMER BULLETIN, v. N/A, p. 25-pg., 2025-03-17. (24/08105-0, 22/01382-3, 23/11783-8, 21/14714-1, 21/08296-2, 20/13703-3, 22/11133-0)