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Functional Polymeric Materials for Environmental Applications

A Special Issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360) belonging to the section "Smart and Functional Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 2132

Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Polymers focuses on the design, synthesis, and application of functional polymeric materials to address pressing environmental challenges, particularly in water treatment and environmental remediation. It highlights how polymer materials, with their tunable structures, high surface areas, and facile functionalization, can be engineered to selectively remove diverse pollutants such as heavy metals, organic dyes, pharmaceuticals, and emerging contaminants from water bodies, while offering operational stability and cost-effectiveness. The collection emphasizes innovative strategies in polymer development, including tailored adsorption capabilities, advanced separation mechanisms, and enhanced material durability, to tackle complex pollution scenarios and improve environmental sustainability. In addition to pollutant removal, this issue explores polymer-based solutions for soil remediation and stabilization, broadening the impact of polymer functionalization on environmental protection technologies. Overall, this Special Issue brings together research and reviews that advance both fundamental understanding and practical implementations of functional polymers for environmental applications, aiming to promote sustainable and efficient remediation technologies.

Dr. Yan Wang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • advanced functional polymers
  • environmental remediation
  • water purification
  • adsorptive and catalytic materials
  • polymer membranes, hydrogels, and aerogels
  • pollutant removal
  • sustainable polymer materials

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

37 pages, 4259 KB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Dye Removal Using Chitosan: Characterization and Kinetic Modeling of Methylene Blue and Methyl Orange Adsorption
by Bandar A. Al-Mur and Mamdoh T. Jamal
Polymers 2026, 18(5), 546; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18050546 - 24 Feb 2026
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 1819
Abstract
This study investigates the potential of pure chitosan powder as an effective, sustainable, and low-cost adsorbent for the removal of synthetic dyes from aqueous media. The work demonstrates the potential of pristine chitosan for practical wastewater treatment applications by adsorbing two commonly used [...] Read more.
This study investigates the potential of pure chitosan powder as an effective, sustainable, and low-cost adsorbent for the removal of synthetic dyes from aqueous media. The work demonstrates the potential of pristine chitosan for practical wastewater treatment applications by adsorbing two commonly used textile dyes, methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB). To elucidate the adsorption mechanism, chitosan was comprehensively characterized using zeta potential analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM–EDX), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and point of zero charge (pHpzc) determination. FTIR analysis revealed notable shifts in –NH2 and –OH functional groups after dye adsorption, confirming their involvement in electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding with MO and MB. SEM images demonstrated significant surface morphological changes following adsorption, while EDX spectra confirmed successful dye uptake through the appearance of sulfur and nitrogen signals characteristic of MO and MB, respectively. Zeta potential and pHpzc results explained the strong pH-dependent adsorption behavior, highlighting favorable electrostatic attraction between chitosan and the ionic dyes. The optimum adsorption conditions were achieved at adsorbent dosages of 0.5 g for MO and 1.0 g for MB, a contact time of 30 min, initial dye concentrations of 20 and 100 mg/L, and solution pH values of 3 for MO and 9 for MB at room temperature. The adsorption data fit the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating monolayer adsorption on a homogeneous chitosan surface, with maximum adsorption capacities of 7.843 mg/g for MO and 7.605 mg/g for MB. Kinetic studies showed that adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order model, suggesting chemisorption as the dominant mechanism. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption process was endothermic and non-spontaneous under the investigated conditions. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that unmodified chitosan is a practical, eco-friendly adsorbent for dye removal, achieving removal efficiencies comparable to many modified chitosan composites, and represents a promising candidate for sustainable wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymeric Materials for Environmental Applications)
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