Layered double hydroxide/conductive polymer nanocomposites: Toward multifunctional biocompatible nanoadsorbents for wastewater treatment applications

ABSTRACT

Layered double hydroxide (LDH)/conductive polymer nanocomposites combine the promising adsorption capabilities of 2D layered nanomaterials and the electric properties of conductive polymers, resulting in multifunctional adsorbents for wastewater treatment. In this work, a simple in situ polymerization of aniline was conducted in the presence of Zn-Fe LDH to synthesize a Zn-Fe LDH/PANI nanocomposite, which was characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and BET. The composite showed a particle-like morphology with a size of 30–60 nm and a BET surface area of 23.27 m²/g and was used as an adsorbent for carbamazepine (CBZ). Zn-Fe LDH/PANI removed 98% of CBZ at pH 7, 0.2 g/L, and 40 mg/L CBZ. For biocompatibility, acute toxicity was assessed in vivo for ten days using male albino rats, and probit analysis (after 2, 6, and 24 hours) was used to determine the LD₀, LD₂₀, LD₅₀, LD₉₀, and LD₁₀₀ values, which were calculated to be 890, 1051, 3188, 6371, and 11,300, respectively. During this time, the rats were weighed, and other observations were made, including mortality, behavior, injuries, and any symptoms of toxicity or side effects. Histopathological examination of organs such as the liver, kidney, brain, skin, intestine, and cecum for any pathological alterations was performed. Two green metrics were applied, the Analytical Eco-scale and the Analytical GREEness Calculator (AGREE).

KEYWORDS:

• Adsorption
• carbamazepine
• layered double hydroxide
• probit analysis
• acute toxicity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The authors of this work gratefully acknowledge the generous financial support from Beni-Suef University, University Performance Development Centre, Support and Project Finance Office, project ID # YR4-BSU2103. In addition, the authors acknowledge Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number PNURSP2024R5 and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for financial support. This study/publication (Project ID: TAILORED ENZYMATIC AND NANO-BASED TREATMENT OF WASTEWATER TO DETOXIFY HEAVY METALS AND DEGRADE ANTIBIOTICS) is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of [Prof. Hamada Mahmoud] and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.