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Volume 11
Issue 10
10.3390/gels11100809
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Article

Preparation and Characterization of Chemically Cross-Linked Xanthan/Poly(Vinylalcohol) Hydrogel Films Containing Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles for Potential Application in Removal of Methylene Blue and Crystal Violet Dyes

by
Nicusor Fifere
*,
Maria Marinela Lazar
,
Irina Elena Raschip
,
Anton Airinei
,
Cristian-Dragos Varganici
and
Maria Valentina Dinu
“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Grigore Ghica Voda Alley 41A, 700487 Iasi, Romania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Gels 2025, 11(10), 809; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11100809 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 9 September 2025 / Revised: 6 October 2025 / Accepted: 8 October 2025 / Published: 9 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Properties of Hydrogels, Aerogels, and Cryogels Composites (3rd Edition))
Versions Notes

Abstract

In this work, hydrogel nanocomposites, as films, were prepared by embedding cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs) within xanthan gum (Xn)/poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) matrices. Their physicochemical properties were tuned by adjusting the ratio between components and thermal treatment conditions. The cross-linking of the polymer network was confirmed by attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), thermal analysis, and swelling behavior. Morphological features were evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while optical properties were investigated by UV–Vis spectroscopy. Undoped films displayed high transparency (~80% transmittance at 400 nm), with thermal cross-linking determined only slight yellowing and negligible changes in absorption edge (300 ± 2 nm). In contrast, CeO2NPs incorporation increased reflectance and introduced a new absorption threshold around 400 ± 2 nm, indicating nanoparticle–matrix interactions that modify optical behavior. Sorption studies with Methylene Blue (MB) and Crystal Violet (CV) dyes highlighted the influence of nanoparticle content and cross-linking on functional performance, with thermally treated samples showing the highest efficiency (~97–98% MB and 71–83% CV removal). Overall, the results demonstrate how structural tailoring and cross-linking control the characteristics of Xn/PVA/CeO2 nanocomposites, providing insight into their design as multifunctional hydrogel materials for environmental applications.
Keywords: nanocomposite hydrogel; cross-linked films; CeO2NPs; morphology; optical properties; dye removal efficiency nanocomposite hydrogel; cross-linked films; CeO2NPs; morphology; optical properties; dye removal efficiency

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MDPI and ACS Style

Fifere, N.; Lazar, M.M.; Raschip, I.E.; Airinei, A.; Varganici, C.-D.; Dinu, M.V. Preparation and Characterization of Chemically Cross-Linked Xanthan/Poly(Vinylalcohol) Hydrogel Films Containing Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles for Potential Application in Removal of Methylene Blue and Crystal Violet Dyes. Gels 2025, 11, 809. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11100809

AMA Style

Fifere N, Lazar MM, Raschip IE, Airinei A, Varganici C-D, Dinu MV. Preparation and Characterization of Chemically Cross-Linked Xanthan/Poly(Vinylalcohol) Hydrogel Films Containing Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles for Potential Application in Removal of Methylene Blue and Crystal Violet Dyes. Gels. 2025; 11(10):809. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11100809

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fifere, Nicusor, Maria Marinela Lazar, Irina Elena Raschip, Anton Airinei, Cristian-Dragos Varganici, and Maria Valentina Dinu. 2025. "Preparation and Characterization of Chemically Cross-Linked Xanthan/Poly(Vinylalcohol) Hydrogel Films Containing Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles for Potential Application in Removal of Methylene Blue and Crystal Violet Dyes" Gels 11, no. 10: 809. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11100809

APA Style

Fifere, N., Lazar, M. M., Raschip, I. E., Airinei, A., Varganici, C.-D., & Dinu, M. V. (2025). Preparation and Characterization of Chemically Cross-Linked Xanthan/Poly(Vinylalcohol) Hydrogel Films Containing Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles for Potential Application in Removal of Methylene Blue and Crystal Violet Dyes. Gels, 11(10), 809. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11100809

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