Valorization of Cellulose Sludge as a Sodium Alginate-Based Bioadsorbent for Bromazepam Removal from Water
- 1Federal University of Fronteira Sul , , , ,
- 2Federal University of Santa Catarina , , ,
Abstract
The remediation of benzodiazepine residues from industrial discharge remains a critical environmental challenge due to their chemical stability and neurotoxic potential. In this study, cellulose sludge from the pulp-and-paper industry was successfully upcycled into Ca2+-cross-linked sodium alginate hydrogel beads for the targeted removal of bromazepam (BZP). This work represents the first systematic investigation into BZP sequestration using a waste-derived hybrid hydrogel, at deliberately low concentrations (0.5–5.4 mg L–1), kept as close to environmentally relevant levels as the analytical method allows and within the range reported for point-source pharmaceutical effluents. The beads exhibited a rough filamentous surface and an interconnected 3D porous network characterized by a mesoporous texture (SSA: 9.35 m2 g–1; pore volume: 0.04 cm3 g–1) and an amphoteric surface (pHPZC = 8.04). Kinetic studies revealed a rapid initial uptake reaching an experimental capacity of 0.25 mg g–1 at 180 min, with the Elovich model providing the best statistical fit (R2 = 0.994; AIC = −56.9; BIC = −56.7), consistent with adsorption on energetically heterogeneous sites governed by coverage-dependent rate decay. Because the isotherms were measured in this dilute range, no saturation plateau was reached: the equilibrium data were best described by the Freundlich model at 25 °C and by a linear (Henry-type) model at 35 and 45 °C. The hydrogel beads were efficiently regenerated using 0.1 M HCl, maintaining structural integrity and performance across four consecutive cycles (BZP removal of approximately 13–15% in each cycle, with no systematic decline). This study provides a sustainable, zero-waste strategy for the valorization of abundant industrial residues into functional bioadsorbents, directly supporting circular economy goals for emerging contaminant mitigation.
Related
- Sustainable production of pure nanocrystalline cellulose (NCCs) as a binder for enhanced aspirin tablets: Valorization of palm kernel waste
- Valorization of cotton waste into cellulose nanocrystals and their incorporation into electrospun poly (vinyl alcohol) nanofibrous membranes with enhanced thermal and structural properties
- Enhanced Azo Dye Removal via Alginate-Immobilized Ganoderma lucidum: From Batch Experiments to Continuous Column Studies
- Toward a New Paradigm for Renewable Biopolymer Selection: A Structure–Processing–Architecture–Property–Scalability Framework (Alginate, Cellulose, Lignin, Chitosan, and Starch)
- Valorization of Municipal Sewage Sludge into Activated Carbon for Cationic Dye Removal
BibTeX
@article{brandler2026valorization,
title = {{Valorization of Cellulose Sludge as a Sodium Alginate-Based Bioadsorbent for Bromazepam Removal from Water}},
author = {Danieli Brandler and Bruna da Conceição Marques and Gabriel Tochetto and Yago Colares Pinto and William Kubiaki Levandoski and Aluizio Araújo Passos and Gabriela Perusin Flores and Vitória Bôaventura Midon and Arielle Fornari and Eduardo Pavan Korf and Gean Delise Leal Pasquali},
journal = {ACS Omega},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1021/acsomega.6c09601},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c09601/5463393/Valorization-of-Cellulose-Sludge-as-a-Sodium},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Valorization of Cellulose Sludge as a Sodium Alginate-Based Bioadsorbent for Bromazepam Removal from Water
AU - Danieli Brandler
AU - Bruna da Conceição Marques
AU - Gabriel Tochetto
AU - Yago Colares Pinto
AU - William Kubiaki Levandoski
AU - Aluizio Araújo Passos
AU - Gabriela Perusin Flores
AU - Vitória Bôaventura Midon
AU - Arielle Fornari
AU - Eduardo Pavan Korf
AU - Gean Delise Leal Pasquali
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - ACS Omega
DO - 10.1021/acsomega.6c09601
UR - https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c09601/5463393/Valorization-of-Cellulose-Sludge-as-a-Sodium
AB - The remediation of benzodiazepine residues from industrial discharge remains a critical environmental challenge due to their chemical stability and neurotoxic potential. In this study, cellulose sludge from the pulp-and-paper industry was successfully upcycled into Ca2+-cross-linked sodium alginate hydrogel beads for the targeted removal of bromazepam (BZP). This work represents the first systematic investigation into BZP sequestration using a waste-derived hybrid hydrogel, at deliberately low concentrations (0.5–5.4 mg L–1), kept as close to environmentally relevant levels as the analytical method allows and within the range reported for point-source pharmaceutical effluents. The beads exhibited a rough filamentous surface and an interconnected 3D porous network characterized by a mesoporous texture (SSA: 9.35 m2 g–1; pore volume: 0.04 cm3 g–1) and an amphoteric surface (pHPZC = 8.04). Kinetic studies revealed a rapid initial uptake reaching an experimental capacity of 0.25 mg g–1 at 180 min, with the Elovich model providing the best statistical fit (R2 = 0.994; AIC = −56.9; BIC = −56.7), consistent with adsorption on energetically heterogeneous sites governed by coverage-dependent rate decay. Because the isotherms were measured in this dilute range, no saturation plateau was reached: the equilibrium data were best described by the Freundlich model at 25 °C and by a linear (Henry-type) model at 35 and 45 °C. The hydrogel beads were efficiently regenerated using 0.1 M HCl, maintaining structural integrity and performance across four consecutive cycles (BZP removal of approximately 13–15% in each cycle, with no systematic decline). This study provides a sustainable, zero-waste strategy for the valorization of abundant industrial residues into functional bioadsorbents, directly supporting circular economy goals for emerging contaminant mitigation.
SN - 2470-1343
ER -