Selective adsorption of hemoglobin using polymer-grafted-magnetite nanocellulose composite

A novel adsorbent, poly(methacrylic acid-co-vinyl sulfonic acid)-grafted-magnetite nanocellulose composite (P(MAA-co-VSA)-g-MNCC) was synthesized for adsorbing hemoglobin (Hb) selectively from aqueous solutions. FTIR, XRD and DLS analyses were carried out to characterize the material. Hb exhibited a decrease in α-helix and an increase in β-sheet structure, upon immobilization onto P(MAA-co-VSA)-g-MNCC. The maximum adsorption was found to be at pH 6.5 with a monolayer capacity of 248.19 mg/g at 30 °C. Adsorption capacity attained saturation within 2 h. The kinetic data were found to follow pseudo-second-order model which is based on chemisorption. Adsorption behavior was observed to be endothermic in nature. P(MAA-co-VSA)-g-MNCC can be used in the selective adsorption of Hb from mixture of proteins. Spent adsorbent was effectively regenerated with 0.01 M KOH. Present investigation had shown that P(MAA-co-VSA)-g-MNCC would be a promising material for the selective recovery of Hb from aqueous solutions.

► The hydrogel P(MAA-co-VSA)-g-MNCC was synthesized by graft copolymerization reaction.
► P(MAA-co-VSA)-g-MNCC was characterized using FTIR, XRD and TG techniques.
► Adsorption characteristics of hemoglobin (Hb) on P(MAA-co-VSA)-g-MNCC were studied.
► The adsorbent can be used in the selective recovery of Hb from aqueous solutions.
► Regeneration of spent adsorbent was possible with 0.01 M KOH.