An innovative and environmentally benign approach involves the use of algae amino-modified nanoparticles to effectively remove phenol from water, resulting in considerable environmental benefits.

Younis, Alaa; Alkhalifa, Rand A. N.; Saleh, Sayed

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2025.379290.11750

An innovative and environmentally benign approach involves the use of algae amino-modified nanoparticles to effectively remove phenol from water, resulting in considerable environmental benefits.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraidah, 51452, Saudi Arabia

² Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraidah 51452, Saudi Arabia

10.21608/ejchem.2025.379290.11750

Abstract

This study presents a green and effective strategy for removing phenolic pollutants from aqueous systems by utilizing amino-modified Sargassum angustifolium nanoparticles (Amino-SANPs), a novel biosorbent engineered from abundant marine biomass. The innovative aspect of this work lies in the surface functionalization of naturally derived algae with amino groups, which significantly enhances adsorption properties by increasing surface area, increasing active site availability, and increasing the potential for hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. Comparative experiments demonstrate that Amino-SANPs outperform unmodified SANPs, achieving a maximum phenol removal efficiency of 79%, with an adsorption capacity of 90 mg/g, as determined by the Langmuir isotherm model. Batch adsorption studies were conducted to investigate the impact of critical operational parameters, including pH, contact time, initial phenol concentration, and adsorbent dosage. Kinetic modeling revealed that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order mechanism, indicating chemisorption dominated by surface interactions between phenol molecules and amino-functionalized active sites. SEM imaging further confirmed morphological enhancement after modification, with increased porosity and surface roughness contributing to efficient pollutant capture. Additionally, isotherm analyses using Langmuir and Freundlich models provided insight into monolayer and heterogeneous adsorption behavior, respectively, with high correlation coefficients supporting the robustness of the findings. This research demonstrates the potential of integrating nanotechnology with natural biosorbents to create cost-effective, regenerative, and high-performance materials for water purification. The use of renewable algal biomass not only adds value to marine waste streams but also aligns with the principles of a circular economy. Overall, the application of Amino-SANPs represents a sustainable and scalable solution for mitigating phenolic contamination in water systems, offering substantial environmental benefits through reduced chemical usage, lower energy demands, and enhanced ecological protection.

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