Abstract:
Current wastewater treatment plants are
unable to capture the microplastics (MPs), highlighting
the need for sustainable, low-cost, and eco-friendly
remediation methods. This study focuses on the design of
supramolecular fibrous frameworks produced via the
self-assembly of chitin (Ct) and cellulose (Cel) fibers,
combined with municipal solid waste (MSW) derived
biochar (BC), for MP removal. MSW-BC was prepared
via the pyrolysis at 550 °C. Ct was dispersed in 5% acetic
acid and combined with Cel and BC at a 10:1:1 ratio. All
three components were combined and homogenized for
30 min. Following blending, the mixture was frozen at −19
°C for 24 h. The frozen mixture was oven-dried at 70 °C
for 72 h. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy
confirmed successful integration of the three components,
revealing characteristic O–H/N–H stretching (3300-3250
cm−1), C–H stretching (2890 cm−1), amide I and II bands
(1650-1625 cm−1 and 1550 cm−1), and C–O–C/C–O
stretching vibrations (1157 and 1010 cm−1), indicative of
strong hydrogen bonding and intermolecular interactions
between the biopolymer matrix and BC surface. MP
removal performance was assessed on packed-bed
column experiments using a 50 mL polyethylene (PE) MP
solution (1 mg/L). Under optimum conditions (10 cm bed
height, 2.5 mL/min flow rate), the quartz-only control
removed 42.14% of MPs, while the quartz/Ct-Cel-BC
column achieved 95.30% removal. Therefore,
incorporating BC may have improved physical
entrapment due to its porous structure and fibrous
framework. Removal efficiency increased with greater
bed height and lower flow rate, which may be due to
longer residence times and greater contact time between
MPs and the adsorbent surface. Overall, the integration
of MSW-BC into a Ct-Cel supramolecular fibrous
framework yielded a multifunctional, cost-effective
adsorbent with excellent PE MP removal efficiency.
