Researchers have engineered a more sustainable technique for producing hydrogel composites, a type of material that is widely studied for wastewater decontamination. The hydrogels remove contaminants such as heavy metal ions, dyes, and other common pollutants.

The hydrogel composites can be made from 100% lignocellulose (plant matter) — the most abundant bioresource on Earth. One ingredient is cellulose gum (carboxymethyl cellulose or CMC), a thickener and emulsion derived commonly from wood pulp or cotton processing byproducts and used in various food products including ice cream. Added to the hydrogel are graphene oxide-like carbon dots synthesized from biomass with the help of microwave heat. The hydrogel composites are then cured with UV light, a mild process that takes place in water at room temperature.

Hydrogels consist of a network of polymer chains that not only absorb water but also collect molecules and ions by means of electrostatic interactions — a process known as adsorption. The new process also reinforces the stability of the hydrogel composites so they can outlast ordinary hydrogels for repeated cycles of water purification.

Graphene oxide has become a favored additive to this mix because of its high adsorption capacity but the environmental cost of graphene oxide production is high. The new process is based on common bio-based raw materials and significantly milder processes with less impact on the environment.

Graphene is derived from graphite, a crystalline form of carbon that most people would recognize as the “lead” in pencils. In oxidized form, it can be used in hydrogels but the oxidation process requires harsh chemicals and conditions. Synthesizing graphene from biomass often requires temperatures of up to 1300 °C. By contrast, the new process carbonizes biomass at much lower temperatures. The researchers reduced sodium lignosulfate, a byproduct from wood pulping, into carbon flakes by heating it in water in a microwave oven. The water is brought to 240 °C and is kept at that temperature for two hours.

Ultimately, after a process of oxidation, the team produced carbon dots of about 10 to 80 nanometers in diameter, which are then mixed with the methacrylated CMC and treated with UV light to form the hydrogel.

For more information, contact David Callahan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; +46 8 790 69 76.