Environment responsive Al³⁺ networked chitosan-gelatin spherical beads for the effective removal of organic pollutants from aqueous solutions

In order to remove noxious Congo Red (CR), Acid Red 1 (AR1) and Reactive Red 2 (RR2) dye molecules from water, an environment responsive and biodegradable spherical chitosan-gelatin biopolymeric beads were designed and embedded with Al³⁺ ions. The surface morphology, specific surface area, crystalline phases, elemental composition and thermal properties of the CAG spherical beads had examined. Adsorption experiments were explored to investigate the adsorption properties of dye molecules on CAG spherical beads. The adsorption parameters like solution pH, contact time, co-existing ions, adsorbent dosage and regeneration studies were optimized using batch experiment method. The maximum adsorption efficiency of CR, AR1, and RR2 dye molecules on CAG spherical beads were 34.89, 32.36 and 33.63 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption system fits well with pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich isotherm model. The molecular interactions followed in the adsorption mechanisms were the electrostatic force of attraction, surface complexation and hydrogen bondings that exist between dye molecules and the CAG spherical beads. The CAG spherical beads could be regenerated up to six consecutive cycles using an aqueous 0.1 M NaOH solution. The study emphasizes that the fabricated CAG spherical beads could act as a potential adsorbent in the water/wastewater treatment process.