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Carbon sponge nanostructure derived from cellulose as an adsorbent for enhanced removal of organic contaminants.

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Title: Carbon sponge nanostructure derived from cellulose as an adsorbent for enhanced removal of organic contaminants.
Authors: Mello, Beatris L.1 (AUTHOR), Thue, Pascal S.1,2 (AUTHOR) pascalsilasthue@gmail.com, dos Reis, Glaydson S.3 (AUTHOR), Machado, Fernando M.2,4 (AUTHOR), El Kaim Billah, Rachid5 (AUTHOR), Seliem, Moaaz K.6 (AUTHOR), Dehmani, Younes7 (AUTHOR), Silva, Luis F.O.8 (AUTHOR), Lima, Eder C.1 (AUTHOR) eder.lima@ufrgs.br
Source: Colloids & Surfaces A: Physicochemical & Engineering Aspects. May2026:Part 2, Vol. 737, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Sorbents, Porosity, Water pollution, Carbon foams, Cellulose, Micropollutants, Nanostructures, Organic water pollutants
Abstract: Developing advanced carbonaceous adsorbents with engineered porosity is critical for addressing the global challenge of water contamination by persistent organic micropollutants (OMPs). In this study, we synthesized a series of 3D carbon nanostructure sponges (CS) derived from microcrystalline cellulose via a two-step carbonization and potassium hydroxide (KOH) activation process. By systematically varying the cellulose-to-KOH ratio from 1:1–1:4, we engineered the pore architecture from a strictly microporous framework to a highly hierarchical micro-mesoporous system. Extensive characterization using nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) revealed that the optimal material (CS4) exhibits an exceptional Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area of 3007 m2 g−1 and a total pore volume of 1.37 cm3 g−1. Structural analysis resolved a crystallographic paradox: while XRD indicated a loss of long-range order, Raman spectroscopy and TEM confirmed the preservation of local graphitic domains within a highly crumpled, exfoliated nanosponge morphology. This unique structure proved decisive in the adsorption of diverse OMPs, including pharmaceuticals, phenols, and dyes. Adsorption assays demonstrated a strong structure-function relationship governed by size exclusion; while all adsorbents effectively removed small phenolic compounds (capacities ∼ 200 mg g−1), only the hierarchically porous CS4 could accommodate bulky dye molecules such as Direct Red 80 (60.6 mg g−1) and Reactive Green 19 (46.8 mg g−1), which were sterically hindered on the microporous CS1. The results establish cellulose-derived carbon nanosponges as sustainable, high-performance adsorbents with tunable porosity, offering a scalable solution for the remediation of complex wastewater matrices containing pollutants of varying molecular dimensions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Colloids & Surfaces A: Physicochemical & Engineering Aspects is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 191980013
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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  Data: Carbon sponge nanostructure derived from cellulose as an adsorbent for enhanced removal of organic contaminants.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mello%2C+Beatris+L%2E%22">Mello, Beatris L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Thue%2C+Pascal+S%2E%22">Thue, Pascal S.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> pascalsilasthue@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22dos+Reis%2C+Glaydson+S%2E%22">dos Reis, Glaydson S.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Machado%2C+Fernando+M%2E%22">Machado, Fernando M.</searchLink><relatesTo>2,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22El+Kaim+Billah%2C+Rachid%22">El Kaim Billah, Rachid</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Seliem%2C+Moaaz+K%2E%22">Seliem, Moaaz K.</searchLink><relatesTo>6</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dehmani%2C+Younes%22">Dehmani, Younes</searchLink><relatesTo>7</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Silva%2C+Luis+F%2EO%2E%22">Silva, Luis F.O.</searchLink><relatesTo>8</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lima%2C+Eder+C%2E%22">Lima, Eder C.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> eder.lima@ufrgs.br</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sorbents%22">Sorbents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Porosity%22">Porosity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Water+pollution%22">Water pollution</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Carbon+foams%22">Carbon foams</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cellulose%22">Cellulose</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Micropollutants%22">Micropollutants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nanostructures%22">Nanostructures</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Organic+water+pollutants%22">Organic water pollutants</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Developing advanced carbonaceous adsorbents with engineered porosity is critical for addressing the global challenge of water contamination by persistent organic micropollutants (OMPs). In this study, we synthesized a series of 3D carbon nanostructure sponges (CS) derived from microcrystalline cellulose via a two-step carbonization and potassium hydroxide (KOH) activation process. By systematically varying the cellulose-to-KOH ratio from 1:1–1:4, we engineered the pore architecture from a strictly microporous framework to a highly hierarchical micro-mesoporous system. Extensive characterization using nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) revealed that the optimal material (CS4) exhibits an exceptional Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area of 3007 m2 g−1 and a total pore volume of 1.37 cm3 g−1. Structural analysis resolved a crystallographic paradox: while XRD indicated a loss of long-range order, Raman spectroscopy and TEM confirmed the preservation of local graphitic domains within a highly crumpled, exfoliated nanosponge morphology. This unique structure proved decisive in the adsorption of diverse OMPs, including pharmaceuticals, phenols, and dyes. Adsorption assays demonstrated a strong structure-function relationship governed by size exclusion; while all adsorbents effectively removed small phenolic compounds (capacities ∼ 200 mg g−1), only the hierarchically porous CS4 could accommodate bulky dye molecules such as Direct Red 80 (60.6 mg g−1) and Reactive Green 19 (46.8 mg g−1), which were sterically hindered on the microporous CS1. The results establish cellulose-derived carbon nanosponges as sustainable, high-performance adsorbents with tunable porosity, offering a scalable solution for the remediation of complex wastewater matrices containing pollutants of varying molecular dimensions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Colloids & Surfaces A: Physicochemical & Engineering Aspects is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139705
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Sorbents
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Porosity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Water pollution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Carbon foams
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cellulose
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Micropollutants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nanostructures
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Organic water pollutants
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      – TitleFull: Carbon sponge nanostructure derived from cellulose as an adsorbent for enhanced removal of organic contaminants.
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              Text: May2026:Part 2
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              Y: 2026
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