Removal of methylene blue from wastewater using hydrogel nanocomposites: A review
Nompumelelo Malatji, Edwin Makhado, Kwena D. Modibane, Kabelo E. Ramohlola, Thabiso C. Maponya, Gobeng R. Monama, Mpitloane J. Hato
Abstract
Water pollution by organic dyes continues to pose a serious health and environmental threat to the ecosystem. Although adsorption using biopolymer-based hydrogels has proven to be an ideal technique for the treatment of these dye contaminants from aqueous solutions, these hydrogels suffer from lack of mechanical stability and recovery as compared to synthetic polymers. Herein, we review the low-cost synthesis of hydrogel incorporated with inorganic components mainly focusing on strategies to improve the mechanical stability and separation of the hydrogel in removing methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solution. The literature shows that hydrogel nanocomposites are a class of materials that have flourished significant consideration, especially concerning water treatment. In adsorption technology, hydrogel nanocomposites act as absorbents, prominent to enhance their removal efficiency towards contaminants. This review highlights the preparation and use of hydrogel nanocomposites as efficient adsorbents. In-depth discussions on adsorption and diverse synthetic routes of hydrogels have been devoted to applications of these nanocomposites and are compared in this contribution to the removal efficiency of MB dye from wastewater.