TY  - EJOU
AU  - Sahoo, Deepti Rekha 
AU  - Biswal, Trinath 

TI  - Sustainable Removal of Cu<sup><b>2+</b></sup> and Pb<sup><b>2+</b></sup> Ions via Adsorption Using Polyvinyl Alcohol/Neem Leaf Extract/Chitosan (From Shrimp Shells) Composite Films
T2  - Journal of Polymer Materials

PY  - 2025
VL  - 42
IS  - 3
SN  - 0976-3449

AB  - The purpose of this research work is to determine the removal efficiency of Cu<sup>2+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> 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 Cu<sup>2+</sup> is greater than that for Pb<sup>2+</sup>. 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.
KW  - Neem leaf extract; chitosan; polyvinyl alcohol (PVA); antibacterial activity; adsorption capacity

DO  - 10.32604/jpm.2025.067022