Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogels in Water Treatment: Mechanisms, Applications, and Future Perspectives (A Review)

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

Ali Reza Radkhah ¹

Soheil Eagderi ¹

Sedigheh Atash Afrazah ²

¹ Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

² Faculty of Natural Resources, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jwsd.v12i3.2507-1441

Abstract

This review study was conducted to investigate the structure, properties, and diverse applications of hydrogels derived from natural polysaccharides—such as cellulose, chitosan, alginate, starch, and pectin—in water purification. The research discusses the primary pollutant removal mechanisms employed by these hydrogels, including adsorption, ion exchange, filtration, and catalytic degradation, which effectively eliminate a wide range of contaminants such as heavy metal ions and dyes. Analysis of various studies indicates that chitosan, due to its amino groups and inherent cationic charge, is an ideal candidate for adsorbing heavy metals and anionic dyes. On the other hand, alginate-based hydrogels are suitable for the encapsulation and selective absorption of certain pollutants, owing to their ease of gel formation with calcium ions and porous structure. Cellulose and its derivatives also show significant potential for developing cost-effective hydrogels, thanks to their abundance, low cost, and presence of active hydroxyl groups. However, the low solubility and limited reactivity of raw cellulose necessitate complex chemical modifications to enhance its performance. Additionally, pectin, as an anionic polysaccharide capable of gelling in the presence of calcium ions, is suitable for absorbing cationic heavy metals. From an economic perspective, starch and cellulose are suitable options for large-scale applications due to their low cost and abundance, whereas chitosan and alginate, despite their better performance, come with higher production costs. According to the findings, among the various types of hydrogels used globally, those based on cellulose, starch, chitosan, and alginate are far more prevalent in scientific research. Given the potential of these hydrogels—including cost-effectiveness, ease of use, facile modifiability, and biodegradability—they can be utilized to remove various pollutants, especially heavy metals and dyes, from aquatic systems.

Keywords

Chitosan-Based Hydrogels

Emerging Contaminants

Adsorption

Heavy Metals

Sustainable Water Treatment

Subjects

• Water Quality, Recycling and Wastewater

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