Amination of cotton fiber using polyethyleneimine and its application as an adsorbent to directly remove a harmful cyanobacterial species, Microcystis aeruginosa, from an aqueous medium

Ho Seon Kim, Yun Hwan Park, Kwiwoong Nam, Sok Kim, Yoon E. Choi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In the present study, we applied an adsorption-based strategy for the removal of a harmful cyanobacterial species, Microcystis aeruginosa, using cotton fiber. Considering the negatively charged surface properties of M. aeruginosa cells in aqueous phases, aminated cotton fibers were prepared through polyethyleneimine (PEI) modification on the pristine cotton fibers. The aminated surface properties of PEI-modified cotton fiber (PEI-cotton) were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and potentiometric titration analyses. The pristine cotton fiber could not remove the M. aeruginosa cells, but the PEI-cotton could efficiently remove 98.7% of M. aeruginosa cells from the aqueous medium. In addition, removed cells could be observed on the sorbent surface by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis. PEI-cotton fabricated in 3% PEI solution could remove M. aeruginosa cells (97.9%) more efficiently compared to that fabricated in 1% (82.1%) and 2% (86.2%) of PEI solutions. From the toxicity assessment of the PEI-cotton using Daphnia magna, negligible toxicity of PEI-cotton was confirmed. Our results indicate that the application of PEI-cotton fibers for the removal of M. aeruginosa cells could be suggested as a feasible, effective, and eco-friendly method of harmful algal bloom (HAB) control in water resources.

Original languageEnglish
Article number111235
JournalEnvironmental Research
Volume197
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021 Jun

Keywords

  • Adsorption
  • Cotton
  • Harmful algal blooms (HABs)
  • Microcystis aeruginosa
  • Modification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Environmental Science(all)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Amination of cotton fiber using polyethyleneimine and its application as an adsorbent to directly remove a harmful cyanobacterial species, Microcystis aeruginosa, from an aqueous medium'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this