title: A dipeptide-based superhydrogel: Removal of toxic dyes and heavy metal ions from waste water.
abstract: A short peptide-based molecule has been found to form a strong hydrogel at phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.46. The hydrogel has been characterized thoroughly using various techniques including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), wide angle powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and rheological analysis. It has been observed from FE-SEM images that entangled nanofiber network is responsible for gelation. Rheological investigation demonstrates that the self-assembly of this synthetic dipeptide results in the formation of mechanically strong hydrogel with storage modulus (G') around 104Pa. This gel has been used for removing both cationic and anionic toxic organic dyes (Brilliant Blue, Congo red, Malachite Green, Rhodamine B) and metal ions (Co2+and Ni2+) from waste water. Moreover, only a small amount of the gelator is required (less than 1 mg/mL) for preparation of this superhydrogel and even this hydrogel can be reused three times for dye/metal ion absorption. This signifies the importance of the hydrogel towards waste water management.
authors.forename: Nibedita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata- 700032, India.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baral
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata- 700032, India.
authors.forename: Kingshuk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata- 700032, India.
authors.forename: Subhasish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata- 700032, India.
authors.forename: Arindam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banerjee
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012212:Rheology; D013696:Temperature; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D004151:Dipeptides; D020100:Hydrogels; D007477:Ions; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: dye absorption; hydrogel; metal ions absorption; peptide; supergelator