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Recent Research Progress of Novel Ion Adsorbents
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Recent Research Progress of Novel Ion Adsorbents

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 8636

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Elżbieta Grządka

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Guest Editor
Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, M. Skłodowskiej—Curie 3 Sq., 20-031 Lublin, Poland
Interests: macromolecules; polysaccharides; adsorption; colloidal stability; polymer-surfactant interactions; clay minerals; nano-oxides; suspensions; electric double layer; radioecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Katarzyna Szymczyk

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
Interests: surfactants; adsorption; aggregation; contact angle; wettability; adhesion; polymer surfaces; surface and interfacial tension
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to invite you to submit your recent studies to a Special Issue of Molecules titled “Recent Research Progress of Novel Ion Adsorbents”.

The constant progress of civilization has resulted in the development of many different industries. However, the rapid growth of the human population, industrialization, and excessive use of chemicals have contributed to environmental pollution and a decline in clean water resources. Scientists are still looking for effective, efficient, and economical ways to purify water.

One of these is the adsorption process. Adsorption is a surface phenomenon that, due to attractive forces, enables the accumulation of atoms, molecules, or ions of the adsorbate on the surface of the solid adsorbent. Due to its simplicity, effectiveness, and selectivity, this process is used to remove all unwanted substances from water, such as toxic metals, dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and others. Moreover, adsorption processes are usually carried out at low temperatures, which makes them energy-efficient and therefore inexpensive. The key to using adsorption processes for effective substance removal is the proper selection and design of adsorption materials. Currently, the most popular adsorbents are activated carbons, clay minerals, zeolite, oxides, as well as organometallic structures, polymeric materials, and composite and functional materials. An ideal sorbent should be highly selective, with high sorption capacity, and good mechanical and thermal stability. On the other hand, the adsorbent must also enable easy adsorbate desorption, regenerate quickly, and must be easily disposable and affordable. These factors also determine the usefulness of the sorbent in practice. Many such factors have a direct impact on adsorption processes. The most important of them include factors related to the adsorbent (specific surface area, functional groups, and purity) and adsorbate (chemical character, charge, and types of functional groups), as well as related to other system properties (pH, type and ionic strength of the electrolyte, temperature, and presence of other substances).

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect the latest literature on the mechanisms of adsorption processes of ionic substances, and the synthesis and characterization of adsorbents used for this purpose. Original research articles, review articles, and short communications describing current research trends and future prospects in the areas of adsorption processes of ionic substances are welcome.

Dr. Elżbieta Grządka
Dr. Katarzyna Szymczyk
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • synthesis of adsorbents
  • adsorbents regeneration
  • ionic adsorbates
  • purification of water
  • removal of impurities
  • adsorption mechanisms
  • desorption
  • equilibrium data
  • adsorption isotherms
  • kinetic models

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2665 KiB  
Article
Natural (Clinoptilolite) and Synthetic (NaP1) Zeolites in the Adsorption Process for the Removal of Acid Black 1 Dye from Aqueous Solutions
by Magdalena Pająk, Agnieszka Dzieniszewska and Joanna Kyzioł-Komosińska
Molecules 2025, 30(8), 1677; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30081677 - 9 Apr 2025
Viewed by 245
Abstract
This study investigates the adsorption of Acid Black 1 (ABk 1) dye onto natural clinoptilolite (CLIN) and synthetic NaP1 zeolites under various conditions of adsorbent dose (5, 10, 20 g/L), dye concentration (1–1000 mg/L), and contact time (5–1440 min). The adsorption data were [...] Read more.
This study investigates the adsorption of Acid Black 1 (ABk 1) dye onto natural clinoptilolite (CLIN) and synthetic NaP1 zeolites under various conditions of adsorbent dose (5, 10, 20 g/L), dye concentration (1–1000 mg/L), and contact time (5–1440 min). The adsorption data were analyzed using Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms, as well as pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. Both linear and nonlinear regression methods were applied to assess the model fit. The results showed that CLIN exhibited maximum adsorption capacities of 35.32 mg/g, 21.9 mg/g, and 9.39 mg/g at doses of 5 g/L, 10 g/L, and 20 g/L, respectively. For NaP1, the corresponding values were 28.44 mg/g, 12.46 mg/g, and 9.11 mg/g. The pseudo-first-order model described adsorption at low dye concentrations and short contact times, while the pseudo-second-order model successfully explained adsorption across all tested conditions. These findings suggest that both zeolites, particularly CLIN, are effective adsorbents for ABk 1 dye removal, presenting a valuable solution for wastewater treatment applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research Progress of Novel Ion Adsorbents)
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29 pages, 4254 KiB  
Article
Activated Carbons Derived from Brewing Cereal Residues and Pineapple Peelings for Removal of Acid Orange 7 (AO7) Dye
by Samadou Sanni, Ibrahim Tchakala, Tomkouani Kodom, Bonito Aristide Karamoko, Limam Moctar Bawa and Yaovi Holade
Molecules 2025, 30(4), 881; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30040881 - 14 Feb 2025
Viewed by 496
Abstract
The tremendous increase in agro-industrial waste poses major environmental problems and highlights the need for innovative, sustainable solutions. One promising solution would be converting these organic wastes, such as unvalued pineapple peels (ANA) and brewer’s grains (ECB), into activated carbons to meet the [...] Read more.
The tremendous increase in agro-industrial waste poses major environmental problems and highlights the need for innovative, sustainable solutions. One promising solution would be converting these organic wastes, such as unvalued pineapple peels (ANA) and brewer’s grains (ECB), into activated carbons to meet the impending challenge of wastewater treatment. In particular, Acid Orange 7 (AO7) is one of the most widely used synthetic dyes, a significant portion of which ends up in water, posing environmental and health problems with limiting decentralized and cost-effective solutions. To address these two challenges, we investigated the best conditions for converting these organic wastes into alternative activated carbons (named CA-ANA and CA-ECB) for AO7 dye removal under representative adsorption conditions. Extensive characterization (SEM, EDX, XRD, BET) revealed an amorphous, mesoporous structure with specific surface areas of 1150–1630 m2 g−1, outperforming the majority of other biomass-derived activated carbons reported for AO7 removal. Adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm, with record AO7 removal efficiencies of 90–99% for AO7 concentrations of 25–35 mg L−1 in a batch reactor, the driving forces being electrostatic attraction, π–π interactions, and hydrogen bonding. These results undoubtedly highlight the potential of current waste-derived activated carbons as sustainable solutions for efficient wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research Progress of Novel Ion Adsorbents)
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15 pages, 3424 KiB  
Article
Carbon-Based Materials in Combined Adsorption/Ozonation for Indigo Dye Decolorization in Constrain Contact Time
by Naghmeh Fallah, Ermelinda Bloise, Elisa I. García-López and Giuseppe Mele
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4144; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174144 - 31 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1116
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of catalytic ozonation as an effective strategy for indigo dye bleaching, particularly examining the performance of four carbon-based catalysts, activated carbon (AC), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), and thermally etched [...] Read more.
This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of catalytic ozonation as an effective strategy for indigo dye bleaching, particularly examining the performance of four carbon-based catalysts, activated carbon (AC), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), and thermally etched nanosheets (C3N4-TE). The study investigates the efficiency of catalytic ozonation in degrading Potassium indigotrisulfonate (ITS) dye within the constraints of short contact times, aiming to simulate real-world industrial wastewater treatment conditions. The results reveal that all catalysts demonstrated remarkable decolorization efficiency, with over 99% of indigo dye removed within just 120 s of mixing time. Besides, the study delves into the mechanisms underlying catalytic ozonation reactions, elucidating the intricate interactions between the catalysts, ozone, and indigo dye molecules with the processes being influenced by factors such as PZC, pKa, and pH. Furthermore, experiments were conducted to analyze the adsorption characteristics of indigo dye on the surfaces of the materials and its impact on the catalytic ozonation process. MWCNT demonstrated the highest adsorption efficiency, effectively removing 43.4% of the indigo dye color over 60 s. Although the efficiency achieved with C3N4-TE was 21.4%, which is approximately half of that achieved with MWCNT and less than half of that with AC, it is noteworthy given the significantly lower surface area of C3N4-TE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research Progress of Novel Ion Adsorbents)
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30 pages, 7858 KiB  
Article
Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies on Adsorption of Neutral and Ionic Species of Organic Adsorbates from Aqueous Solutions on Activated Carbon
by Małgorzata Wasilewska, Anna Derylo-Marczewska and Adam W. Marczewski
Molecules 2024, 29(13), 3032; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29133032 - 26 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1452
Abstract
This work presents comprehensive studies of the adsorption of neutral and ionic forms of organic adsorbates from aqueous solutions on activated carbon. The influence of pH on the equilibrium and kinetics of the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) and organic acids, benzoic (BA), [...] Read more.
This work presents comprehensive studies of the adsorption of neutral and ionic forms of organic adsorbates from aqueous solutions on activated carbon. The influence of pH on the equilibrium and kinetics of the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) and organic acids, benzoic (BA), 2-nitrobenzoic (2-NBA), 3-nitrobenzoic (3-NBA), and 4-nitrobenzoic (4-NBA) acid, was investigated. Experimental adsorption isotherms were analyzed using the generalized Langmuir isotherm equation (R2 = 0.932–0.995). Adsorption rate data were studied using multiple adsorption kinetics equations, of which the multi-exponential equation gave the best fit quality (R2 − 1 = (6.3 × 10−6)–(2.1 × 10−3)). The half-time was also used to represent the effect of pH on adsorption kinetics. Strong dependences of the adsorption efficiency on the solution pH were demonstrated. In the case of organic acid adsorption, the amount and rate of this process increased with a decrease in pH. Moreover, larger adsorbed amounts of methylene blue were recorded in an alkaline environment in a relatively short time. The maximum absorbed amounts were 11.59 mmol/g, 6.57 mmol/g, 9.38 mmol/g, 2.70 mmol/g, and 0.24 mmol/g for BA, 2NBA, 3-NBA, 4-NBA, and MB. The pure activated carbon and the selected samples after adsorption were investigated using thermal analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research Progress of Novel Ion Adsorbents)
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17 pages, 4529 KiB  
Article
Renewing Interest in Zeolites as Adsorbents for Capture of Cationic Dyes from Aqueous and Ethanolic Solutions: A Simulation-Based Insight into the Efficiency of Dye Adsorption in View of Wastewater Treatment and Valorization of Post-Sorption Materials
by Lotfi Boudjema, Marwa Assaf, Fabrice Salles, Pierre-Marie Gassin, Gaelle Martin-Gassin and Jerzy Zajac
Molecules 2024, 29(13), 2952; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29132952 - 21 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1147
Abstract
The impact of solvents on the efficiency of cationic dye adsorption from a solution onto protonated Faujasite-type zeolite (FAU-Y) was investigated in the prospect of supporting potential applications in wastewater treatment or in the preparation of building blocks for optical devices. The adsorption [...] Read more.
The impact of solvents on the efficiency of cationic dye adsorption from a solution onto protonated Faujasite-type zeolite (FAU-Y) was investigated in the prospect of supporting potential applications in wastewater treatment or in the preparation of building blocks for optical devices. The adsorption isotherms were experimentally determined for methylene blue (MB) and auramine O (AO) from single-component solutions in water and in ethanol. The limiting dye uptake (saturation capacity) was evaluated for each adsorption system, and it decreased in the order of MB–water > AO–water > AO–ethanol > MB–ethanol. The mutual distances and orientations of the adsorbed dye species, and their interactions with the oxygen sites of the FAU-Y framework, with the solvent molecules, and among themselves were inferred from Monte Carlo simulations and subsequently utilized to rationalize the observed differences in the saturation capacity. The dye–solvent competition and the propensity of the dyes to form compact pi-stacked dimers were shown to play an important role in establishing a non-uniform distribution of the adsorbed species throughout the porous space. The two effects appeared particularly strong in the case of the MB–water system. The necessity of including solvent effects in modeling studies is emphasized. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research Progress of Novel Ion Adsorbents)
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19 pages, 4084 KiB  
Article
The Use of Chitin for the Removal of Nitrates and Orthophosphates from Greenhouse Wastewater
by Tomasz Jóźwiak, Artur Mielcarek and Urszula Filipkowska
Molecules 2024, 29(6), 1289; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29061289 - 14 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1194
Abstract
The study investigated the possibility of using chitin flakes as an unconventional sorbent for the removal of orthophosphates and nitrates from greenhouse wastewater (GW). The effluent parameters were as follows: 66.2 mg P-PO4/L, 566.0 mg N-NO3/L, 456.0 mg S-SO [...] Read more.
The study investigated the possibility of using chitin flakes as an unconventional sorbent for the removal of orthophosphates and nitrates from greenhouse wastewater (GW). The effluent parameters were as follows: 66.2 mg P-PO4/L, 566.0 mg N-NO3/L, 456.0 mg S-SO4/L, 13.7 mg Cl−/L, 721 mg Ca2+/L, 230 mg Mg2+/L, hardness 11.3 °dH, and pH 5.4. The scope of the research included determinations of the influence of pH on GW composition and the efficiency of nutrient sorption, the kinetics of nutrient sorption, the influence of the dose of chitin flakes on the effectiveness of nutrient binding and the maximum sorption capacity of the sorbent. The sorption of P-PO4 on the tested sorbent was most effective at pH 4, and the sorption of N-NO3 at pH 2. The equilibrium time of sorption of both nutrients from GW to chitin depended on the sorbent dose and ranged from 150 to 180 min. The sorbent dose of 40 g/L enabled removing 90% of orthophosphates and 5.7% of nitrates from the wastewater. The maximum sorption capacity of CH towards P-PO4 and N-NO3 contained in the GW was 3.20 mg/g and 3.04 mg/g, respectively. In turn, the sorption of calcium and magnesium ions on chitin flakes was completely ineffective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research Progress of Novel Ion Adsorbents)
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Review

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29 pages, 2813 KiB  
Review
Advancements in Inorganic Membrane Filtration Coupled with Advanced Oxidation Processes for Wastewater Treatment
by Chaoying Zhang, Rongfang Yuan, Huilun Chen, Beihai Zhou, Zexin Cui and Boyun Zhu
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4267; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174267 - 9 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2305
Abstract
Membrane filtration is an effective water recycling and purification technology to remove various pollutants in water. Inorganic membrane filtration (IMF) technology has received widespread attention because of its unique high temperature and corrosion resistance. Commonly used inorganic membranes include ceramic membranes and carbon-based [...] Read more.
Membrane filtration is an effective water recycling and purification technology to remove various pollutants in water. Inorganic membrane filtration (IMF) technology has received widespread attention because of its unique high temperature and corrosion resistance. Commonly used inorganic membranes include ceramic membranes and carbon-based membranes. As novel catalytic inorganic membrane processes, IMF coupled with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), can realize the separation and in situ degradation of pollutants, thus mitigating membrane contamination. In this paper, the types and performance of IMF are discussed. The influencing factors of inorganic membranes in practical wastewater treatment are summarized. The applications, advantages, and disadvantages of the coupled process of IMF and AOPs are summarized and outlined. Finally, the challenges and prospects of IMF and IMF coupled with AOPs are presented, respectively. This contributes to the design and development of coupled systems of membrane filtration with inorganic materials and IMF coupled with AOPs for practical wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research Progress of Novel Ion Adsorbents)
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