Zistboom:Iranian researchers from Islamic Azad Universitys Karaj Branch have produced a type of three-dimensional nanocomposite structure by combining collagen protein and montmorilonite nanoparticles in the presence of some chemicals.One of themost important characteristics of these materials is their superior ability to adsorb chemical compounds, especially dye pollutants in the wastewater of industrial plants, Fars News Agency reported.Dr. Gholam Baqeri Marandi, a member of the Scientific Board of the universitys Department of Chemistry, noted that the research was designed to pursue a number of objectives.
"The most important of all was to synthesize protein-based hydrogel nanocomposite that is able to remove industrial pollutants, especially pigments, from the polluted media, and to investigate the effect of the presence of montmorilonite in this process, he said.In this research, samples of the base hydrogel (free from montmorilonite nanoparticles) and hydrogel nanocomposite (containing montmorilonite) were synthesized through a thermal process by using collagen protein and monomers of maleic anhydride and acrylamide in the presence of ammonium persulfate initiator and methylenebis(acrylamide) as the cross-linking agent.
In the next stage, researchers studied the adsorption of methylene green pigments and crystal violet by synthesized samples in various concentrations of pigment and at different pH values.
The research showed that the synthesized nanocomposites are effective in removing cationic pigments. Since the samples could remove pollutants from aqueous solutions at a desirable rate, they can be used in refining processes in polluted areas.Results of the research have been published in Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, vol. 52, issue 3, 2013, pp. 310-318.
By Zistboom
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