Open Access

ARTICLE

Sustainable Removal of Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ Ions via Adsorption Using Polyvinyl Alcohol/Neem Leaf Extract/Chitosan (From Shrimp Shells) Composite Films

Deepti Rekha Sahoo, Trinath Biswal^*

Department of Chemistry, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, 768018, India

* Corresponding Author: Trinath Biswal. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Cellulose and Nanocellulose in Polymer Composites: Sustainable Engineering Approach)

Journal of Polymer Materials 2025, 42(3), 811-835. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpm.2025.067022

Received 23 April 2025; Accepted 11 September 2025; Issue published 30 September 2025

Abstract

The purpose of this research work is to determine the removal efficiency of Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions using polyvinyl alcohol/neem leaf extract/chitosan (PVA/NLE/CS) composite films as adsorbent materials from an aqueous medium, with respect to pH, contact time, and adsorbent dosage. The synthesized composite material was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis-Derivative Thermogravimetry (TGA-DTG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The antibacterial activity and swelling response of the material were studied using suitable methodologies. The FTIR study confirmed the interactions among PVA, chitosan, and neem leaf extract. The TGA data reveal the excellent thermal stability of the developed composite films. The SEM micrograph indicates a homogeneous phase morphology with good compatibility among chitosan, the monomer, and the leaf extract. The antibacterial study revealed that the prepared PVA/NLE/CS films exhibit improved antibacterial activity against bacterial growth. It was found that at pH 6.0, the adsorption capacity for both toxic metal ions is maximum, and decreases with a further rise in pH. At this pH, the adsorption capacity of PVA/NLE/CS films increases with a gradual increase in adsorbent dosage, and at a specific pH, the adsorption capacity for Cu²⁺ is greater than that for Pb²⁺. The adsorption efficiency is a function of contact time and was found to be maximal at 180 min. Hence, the developed composite material is effective for the removal of metal ions from wastewater.

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