•SA-MoS2 nanosheets were prepared by exfoliation of MoS2 with assistance of SA.•All the materials were biodegradable and without any organic solvent added.•SA-MoS2 nanosheets were successfully functionalized during the exfoliated.•SA-MoS2 nanosheets improved thermal and mechanical properties of polymers greatly.In this work, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets were facilely prepared by direct exfoliation of MoS2 in aqueous media with the assistance of sodium alginate (SA). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectra results showed that the raw MoS2 was successfully exfoliated into few-layer MoS2 nanosheets (SA-MoS2). FTIR and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) investigations showed that the obtained MoS2 nanosheets were modified by SA after exfoliation and improved dispersion in water were achieved. The obtained SA-MoS2 nanosheets were employed to reinforce the water-soluble polymer SA. No obvious macroscopic phase separation could be found from the SA/SA-MoS2 films. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results showed that almost 9 times enhancement for the storage modulus of SA was achieved with the incorporation of only 0.5 wt% of SA-MoS2, and the thermal stability of SA was also found improved with the addition of SA-MoS2 according to the thermal gravimetric analysis TGA results.

•SSMA microspheres were prepared from poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) by sulfonation reaction.•The presence of −SO3H on the surface of SSMA made it a possible candidate for the adsorption of positively charged dyes.•SSMA was an absorbent for selective removal of cationic dyes.•The adsorption capacity of SSMA for cationic dyes was greatly increased compared to that of SMA.Sulfonated poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (SSMA) microspheres were prepared from poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (SMA) by sulfonation reaction and its adsorption behavior as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of organic dyes was systematically studied. The structure and morphology of SMA and SSMA were characterized by 13C NMR, FTIR, EDS, XPS, SEM and TEM. The adsorption performance of SMA and SSMA toward organic dyes was investigated by batch mode adsorption experiments. Results indicated that the SSMA had much more adsorbability for cationic dyes such as methylene blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (RhB) compared to SMA. The adsorption capacity for MB of SSMA8h which had been sulfonated 8 h was found to be 671.14 mg/g, while the adsorption capacity of SMA for MB was 344.83 mg/g at 25 °C, showing that the adsorption capacity for cationic dyes was enhanced 94.63% via the sulfonation. The kinetic studies revealed that the sorption followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model which indicated that the adsorption interaction between adsorbent and adsorbate molecules was chemisorption. Moreover, adsorption isotherm mechanisms were analyzed by Freundlich and Langmuir models.After sulfonation, the adsorption capacity of SSMA for MB was enhanced significantly compared to that of SMA. And they showed great potential for selective removal of cationic dyes.

Novel environmental friendly hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) hydrogels were fabricated upon compositing with graphene oxide (GO) in this work. In order to promote a more homogeneous dispersion of GO sheets in HPC, GO was firstly modified with HPC chains through esterification. The morphology and chemical structure of the functionalized HPC-GO were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, and thermo-gravimetric analysis. Then scanning electronic microscope was employed to compare the morphologies of the HPC and HPC-GO/HPC hydrogels. The obtained HPC-GO/HPC hydrogels exhibited excellent adsorption performance toward methylene blue. Simulation of the practical use by preparing simple adsorption columns made from in situ formation of HPC-based hydrogels had given a visible observation of the significant adsorption effect brought by the incorporation of HPC-GO sheets. Adsorption kinetics were then imitated by Lagergren pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. Adsorption isotherms were imitated by Langmuir isotherm and Freundlich isotherm.

In this work, silica particles were firstly modified with poly(methyl methacrylate) and then converted to poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA). The PMAA brushes with different molecular weight were used to modify the seed particles and learn the formation process of the raspberry-like particles. Silica particles with core–shell structure were obtained when the silica seed particles were modified only with carboxyl functional groups. With the increase of the molecular weight of PMAA brushes, uniform raspberry-like silica particles appeared gradually. But when the molecular weight of PMAA brushes was above 136,100, the morphologies became complicated. The electric charge of the polymer brushes was also found to have influence on the final morphologies of the particles. The contact angle (CA) tests showed that films composed of nanoparticles with uniform raspberry-like structures had an average CA of 157.2°, which indicated great prospects in the super-hydrophobic applications.

Uniform stimuli-responsive (“smart”) magnetic chitosan or chitosan/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microcapsules were successfully prepared by using carboxyl-functionalized polystyrene particles as a core template. Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4) were dispersed on the surface of microcapsules under mild conditions and the “smart” response of microcapsule shells was still retained. The structure and morphology of magnetic microcapsules were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and TGA. Microcapsules were prepared after removing the polystyrene core by exposing it to solvent, and the microcapsules exhibited a hollow structure. The magnetic nanoparticles also appeared on the surface of microcapsules and the chitosan/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) composite microcapsules could be readily and quickly collected by an external magnetic field. The pH values of the aqueous dispersion and the temperature response properties of the magnetic microcapsules were investigated with sodium salicylate as the hydrophilic drug.

Biocompatible and biodegradable magnetic chitosan microcapsules were successfully prepared using carboxyl-functionalized polystyrene (PS) particles as core template. First, the monodisperse PS template with an average diameter of 340 nm was made by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. Second, the chitosan (CS) adsorbed onto the surface of the PS template and cross-linked by glutaraldehyde. After removal of the PS core, CS microcapsules could be obtained. The shell thickness of CS could be controlled between 20 and 45 nm by varying the adsorption temperature. Third, the CS microcapsules were used as a microreactor, and iron oxide nanoparticles were incorporated within CS microcapsules. The structure and morphology of the PS template, core–shell PS/CS particles, and magnetic CS microcapsules were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The adsorption of Cu2+ and Cr3+ was investigated including the effects of adsorption time, pH value, temperature, and initial concentration by the batch method. The optimal condition for adsorption of Cu2+ and Cr3+ was 30 °C, with a pH value of 7.0, where the saturated adsorption capacity was 104 mg/g and 159 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption isotherms obeyed the Langmuir equation, and kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model.

Uniform stimuli-responsive (“smart”) magnetic chitosan or chitosan/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microcapsules were successfully prepared by using carboxyl-functionalized polystyrene particles as a core template. Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4) were dispersed on the surface of microcapsules under mild conditions and the “smart” response of microcapsule shells was still retained. The structure and morphology of magnetic microcapsules were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and TGA. Microcapsules were prepared after removing the polystyrene core by exposing it to solvent, and the microcapsules exhibited a hollow structure. The magnetic nanoparticles also appeared on the surface of microcapsules and the chitosan/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) composite microcapsules could be readily and quickly collected by an external magnetic field. The pH values of the aqueous dispersion and the temperature response properties of the magnetic microcapsules were investigated with sodium salicylate as the hydrophilic drug.