Fabrication of mechanical robust keratin adsorbent by induced molecular network transition and its dye adsorption performance.

Keratin-based adsorbents showed a great potential in environmental pollution remediation. However, fabrication of keratin adsorbent with an excellent performance remains a challenging issue mainly because of its poor mechanical properties. In this research, mechanical-reinforced keratin adsorbent was designed and engineered at mesoscopic scale by the induced molecular network transition method. It was found that the ß-crystallite structure of silk fibroin template could induce the transformation of free unfolded molecular chains of keratin to ß-sheet conformation in the keratin adsorbent and further resulted in the controllable manipulation of the mechanical properties of the adsorbent. The prepared keratin adsorbent exhibited an excellent adsorption performance for Reactive Black 5 (RB5). The qe and removal efficiency for RB5 by the adsorbent could reach as high as 550 mg/g and 95.3%, respectively. The adsorbent exhibited an excellent regeneration and recycle performance due to its mechanical reinforcement. The facile molecular network-induced reconstruction strategy is both straightforward and effective for fabricating mechanical robust adsorbent for environmentally pollutant remediation. Graphical abstract.

Fabrication of mechanical robust keratin film by mesoscopic molecular network reconstruction and its performance for dye removal.

Regenerated keratin-based adsorbents have attracted much attention in environmental pollution remediation. However, fabricating keratin-based adsorbents with excellent adsorption performance is still a challenging issue due to its weak mechanical property. In this study, mechanical robust keratin composite films were designed and engineered at mesoscopic scale by molecular network reconstruction strategy. It was found that the ß-crystallites structure of silk fibroin template could induce the transformation of free unfolded molecular chains of keratin to ß-sheet conformation and further resulted in the controllable manipulating of the mechanical properties of keratin films. This mechanical reinforced composite film showed high adsorption efficiency and capacity for dyes as well as ideal regeneration and recycling performance. Adsorption behavior of reactive brilliant blue KN-R by keratin composite films was comprehensively studied. The adsorption capacity (qe) and removal efficiency for KN-R by the adsorbent could reach as high as 190.84 mg/g and 98.52%, respectively. The adsorbent exhibited excellent regeneration and recycling performance due to its mechanical robustness. The molecular network reconstruction strategy is both straightforward and effective for fabricating mechanical robust adsorbent for pollutant remediation.

Fabrication of a novel functional CNC cross-linked and reinforced adsorbent from feather biomass for efficient metal removal.

In this research, an innovative biomass derived spongy adsorbent was fabricated by adopting dialdehyde cellulose nanocrystals (DCNC) as crosslinking and reinforcing building block, which showed high mechanical strength, satisfying adsorption performance and good recyclability. The improved shape integrity and specific surface area resulted from DCNC incorporation contribute to high adsorption performance of this sponge. Adsorption behaviors of the adsorbent were comprehensively studied. The qe for Pb2+ and Cd2+ by the adsorbent could reach as high as 767 and 517 mg/g, respectively. Also, this adsorbent showed excellent recyclability. In addition, the adsorbent exhibited satisfying fixed-bed column adsorption performance. Thus, it could be considered as promising high efficiency adsorbent.