New Green Solution For Oil Spills Using Nanomaterials And Spirulina

Greg Howard
18th August, 2025

New Green Solution For Oil Spills Using Nanomaterials And Spirulina

FESEM imaging reveals the morphological transformation from individual components to a unified ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanocomposite, exhibiting a compact, interconnected structure with a roughened surface that indicates successful material integration for efficient naphthalene adsorption.

Image adapted from: Niyat et al. / CC BY (Source)

Key Findings

  • Researchers at Islamic Azad University developed a new eco-friendly material, a ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanocomposite, to effectively remove harmful naphthalene from water
  • This new material efficiently removed up to 90% of naphthalene in ideal conditions and could be reused multiple times after chemical cleaning
  • While its effectiveness dropped in seawater, adding Spirulina algae boosted removal, showing potential for complex real-world water treatment
Water pollution by harmful organic compounds is a significant global challenge. Among these pollutants are Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of compounds primarily formed from the incomplete burning of organic materials like fossil fuels, wood, and garbage. These substances, including naphthalene, are concerning because they are known to be carcinogenic (cancer-causing), mutagenic (causing genetic mutations), and teratogenic (causing birth defects)[2]. Human exposure can occur through contaminated food, polluted air, and cigarette smoke[2]. Chronic exposure to PAHs has been linked to various health issues, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and even compromised reproductive health in both males and females, potentially leading to infertility and neurodevelopmental disorders in children[2]. Given these extensive risks, effective methods for removing PAHs from water are crucial for public health and environmental safety. Addressing this critical need, recent research from Islamic Azad University has focused on developing a new, environmentally friendly material for water purification[1]. This study introduces a novel material called a ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanocomposite, designed specifically to remove naphthalene, a common PAH, from water. A nanocomposite is a material created by combining different components at a very tiny, nanoscale level (meaning dimensions measured in billionths of a meter) to achieve enhanced properties that none of the individual components possess alone. In this case, the composite integrates zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets, and chitosan. Chitosan, derived from the shells of crustaceans like crabs and shrimp, is a natural, biodegradable material already recognized for its utility in adsorption, separation, and water treatment due to its ability to attract and bind substances, its water-loving nature (hydrophilicity), and its ease of modification[3]. The new nanocomposite leverages these inherent properties of chitosan, combining them with the unique characteristics of ZnO and g-C3N4 to create a synergistic effect for pollutant removal. The material was synthesized through a multi-step process involving calcination (heating to high temperatures), co-precipitation (forming a solid from a solution), and hydrothermal methods (using high-temperature water under pressure). The core mechanism by which this nanocomposite removes naphthalene is adsorption. Adsorption is a process where molecules of a substance (in this case, naphthalene) stick to the surface of another material (the nanocomposite). Structural analyses of the synthesized material confirmed it has a mesoporous nature, meaning it contains pores (tiny channels or holes) of a specific size that are ideal for trapping molecules. Under optimized conditions, the nanocomposite demonstrated a high removal efficiency, successfully eliminating up to 90% of naphthalene from water. The maximum adsorption capacity, which indicates how much pollutant the material can hold, was found to be 9.87 milligrams of naphthalene per gram of the adsorbent material. Further analysis suggested that the naphthalene molecules primarily form a single layer on the surface of the nanocomposite, a process known as monolayer adsorption. The study also indicated that the adsorption process is spontaneous and releases heat (exothermic), and that the binding between the naphthalene and the material is mainly physical, rather than chemical. While the nanocomposite showed promising results in synthetic solutions, achieving over 99% removal in some cases, its performance was observed to decline when tested in seawater, removing only 39% of the naphthalene. Interestingly, adding Spirulina algae alongside the nanocomposite improved the removal efficiency in seawater to 50%, suggesting potential for combined treatment approaches. A key aspect of any effective water treatment material is its ability to be reused. The study investigated the regeneration of the nanocomposite, finding that chemical methods were more effective than simply heating the material to clean it for subsequent use. This ability to regenerate and reuse the adsorbent aligns with the principles of sustainable and cost-effective water treatment solutions, similar to how other biosorbents like walnut shells have shown promise for removing petroleum compounds and can be reused over multiple cycles, highlighting their low-cost and environmentally friendly nature for industrial applications[4]. In summary, the research from Islamic Azad University presents a promising ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanocomposite as an eco-friendly adsorbent for tackling naphthalene and other PAH contamination in water. By building upon the known benefits of chitosan[3] and aiming for a regenerable and effective solution, this study contributes to the ongoing efforts to develop advanced materials for environmental remediation. While the material shows significant potential, particularly for specific organic pollutants like PAHs, further enhancements are necessary to optimize its performance for widespread real-world water treatment applications, especially in complex environments like seawater.

EnvironmentSustainabilityBiotech

References

Main Study

1) A novel synergistic and eco-friendly approach for efficient crude oil removal from water using ZnO/g-C3N4/chitosan nanostructure and spirulina algae

Published 15th August, 2025

Journal: Scientific Reports

Issue: Vol 15, Issue 2, 8 2025

Related Studies

2) Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Environment: Occupational Exposure, Health Risks and Fertility Implications.

https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13030151

3) Preparation of ultra-light, highly compressible, and biodegradable chitosan porous materials for heavy metal adsorption, dye adsorption and oil-water separation.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122662

4) Biosorption of petroleum compounds from aqueous solutions using walnut shells.

https://doi.org/10.1080/15226514.2024.2433536


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