CELLULOSE-BASED HYDROGELS OBTAINED FROM DIFFERENT BIOMASS SOURCES: STUDY OF THE FORMATION MECHANISM AND APPLICATION ON TOXIC METAL REMOVAL FROM WATER

• Grant number: 24/04096-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Carlos José Leopoldo Constantino
• Grantee: Andressa Silva Gomes
• Supervisor: Benjamin Hsiao
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Stony Brook University (SB), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/13124-9 - Synthesis cellulose fluorescent hydrogel from agroindustrial residue: removal and sensing of toxic metals and pesticides from water, BP.DR

Abstract

This research project internship abroad (BEPE) is linked to the doctorate project FAPESP 2022/13124-9, which involves the one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of fluorescent hydrogel based on cellulose obtained from sugarcane bagasse to adsorption and detection of the heavy metal ions, lead (Pb2+), mercury (Hg2+) and chromium (Cr6+) and emergent contaminant such as the pesticide glyphosate. This BEPE project is complementary to the Brazilian project in progress, once the comparative study of different biomass sources, will offer an understanding of the hydrogel structure by the mechanism of formation. Herein, we propose the production of cellulosic hydrogel using cellulose and lignin derived from various biomass sources, such as sugarcane bagasse (HSB@LigSB) and eucalyptus sawdust (HES@LigES). Cellulose will be applied as the polymeric matrix of the hydrogel structure, being functionalized to carboxymethyl nanocellulose. The lignin isolated from different biomass sources will perform as the crosslink agent and will compare with commercial lignin (HSB@LigC and HES@LigC) and epichlorohydrin (HSB@ECH and HES@ECH). Aiming to vary the interchain linkages in the hydrogel structure, selecting the most effective results from each sample for application in the adsorption of heavy metal ions, and applying adsorption isotherms to evaluate the adsorption capacity. In this context, we will have the collaboration of Prof. Dr. Benjamin S. Hsiao from Stony Brook University (Stony Brook-NY, USA), a specialist in the development of cellulosic materials and the study of contaminant removal by adsorption, and with whom our Research Group has already a valued collaboration during previous doctorate BEPE project (2017/03638-7).