Contemporary adsorption materials for the removal of pollutants from water

Abstract

Water contamination by heavy metals represents a serious environmental challenge, with Pb(II) recognized as one of the most toxic and extensively studied pollutants. This paper presents a comparative analysis of contemporary adsorption materials based on aminosilane-modified zeolites, chemically functionalized lignocellulosic biomass, and four types of hybrid alginate composites. Particular emphasis is placed on comparing their efficiency in Pb(II) removal, as well as evaluating the influence of chemical modification and the combination of different components on the adsorption properties of the prepared materials. The comparative approach provides insight into the contribution of each stage in adsorbent development from the modification of natural materials to the fabrication of hybrid composites-with the aim of enhancing adsorption capacity and improving functional properties. The obtained results demonstrate that chemical functionalization significantly improves adsorption efficiency, while hybrid alginate composites exhibit the best performance due to the synergistic effect of zeolites and biomass within the alginate matrix. These findings confirm that combining different natural adsorbents is an effective strategy for developing advanced materials for the treatment of contaminated water.