Development of Nanostructured Graphitic Carbon Nitride (\u3cem\u3eg\u3c/em\u3e-C\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3eN\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e) / Poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) Composite Hydrogels for Environmental Remediation Applications

Nanostructured composite g-C3N4/PVA hydrogels were fabricated as potential photoactive agents for the sequestration and remediation of persistent environmental pollutants. Microscopic and spectroscopic characterization of the hydrogel materials confirms homogeneous distribution of the carbon nitride filler throughout the polymer matrix. Mechanical analysis of the hydrogels indicates that the introduction of carbon nitride modifies the physical properties of the hydrogel, likely as a result of strong intermolecular interactions between the polymer and the carbon nitride. The adsorption of the model pollutant methylene blue (MB) by hydrogels with various loadings of carbon nitride has been explored. Kinetic isotherms for the materials developed for this study indicate that the carbon nitride positively enhances the adsorption profile of the dye by the hydrogels. The results of this study indicate that nanostructured g-C3N4/PVA composite hydrogels may serve as a viable platform for the development of new technologies for a variety of environmental remediation applications