Data for the synthesis, characterization, and use of xerogels as adsorbents for the removal of fluoride and bromide in aqueous phase.

Groundwater with high fluoride concentrations has been recognized as one of the serious concerns worldwide. Besides, the fluoride released into the groundwater by slow dissolution of fluoride-containing rocks, various industries also contribute to fluoride pollution [1]. Excess intake of fluoride leads to various health problems such as dental and skeletal fluorosis, cancer, infertility, brain damage, thyroid diseases, etc. [2]. On the other hand, bromide is naturally present in surface and groundwater sources. However, during the chlorination process, bromide can be oxidized to HOBr, which can react with natural organic matter in water to form brominated organic disinfection byproducts, which are very harmful to human health [3]. Among various methods for water treatment, the adsorption process has been widely used and seems to be an efficient and attractive method for the removal of many contaminants in water, such as anions, in terms of cost, simplicity of design, and operation [4], [5]. In the past years, xerogels and carbon xerogels, a new type of adsorbents, which are synthesized by the sol-gel polycondensation of resorcinol and formaldehyde, have gained attention due to their moldable texture and chemical properties [6]. Moreover, melamine addition in resorcinol and formaldehyde xerogels adds basic groups on its surface, favouring Lewis acid-base interactions between xerogels and other components by adsorption [7]. In this data article, the synthesis of three resorcinol-formaldehyde (R/F) xerogels with an increasing amount of melamine (M) was carried out by colloidal polymerization (molar ratios of M/R = 0.5, M/R = 1.0, and M/R = 2.0). Additionally, samples of M/R = 0.5 xerogel were carbonized at 400, 450, and 550 °C under an inert atmosphere to increase their specific area. Organic and carbon xerogels obtained were characterized by FTIR, TGA, SEM, Physisorption of N2, and the pH at the point of zero charge (pHPZC). All organic xerogels were also tested as adsorbents on the removal of fluoride and bromide ions from aqueous phase. The Freundlich, Langmuir, and Radke-Prausnitz isotherm models were applied to interpret the experimental data from adsorption equilibrium. Additionally, the data of the mass of the xerogel needed to remove fluoride and bromide from groundwater and fulfill the maximum concentration levels are also included.

Formaldehyde and tripolyphosphate crosslinked chitosan hydrogels: Synthesis, characterization and modeling.

In this work, the synthesis of crosslinked chitosan hydrogels was performed by ionic and covalent interactions using tripolyphosphate (TPP) and formaldehyde (CH2O), respectively. The hydrogels synthesis was performed using a D-Optimal combined experiment design with two mixing variables, A and B representing the TPP weight fraction (slack variable) and CH2O weight fraction, respectively, and three (3) process variables C-chitosan concentration, D-cross-linker concentration, and E-Contact time. The response variables studied were the point of zero charge (pHPZC), the swelling ratio (SW), and the equilibrium water content (EWC), which are relevant physicochemical properties in applications such as the pollutant removal from water. According to the ANOVA results, the model obtained was significant; this means it can be adequately used to predicting pHPZC, SW, and EWC from the mixing and process variables, obtaining coefficients of determination R2 of 0.9572, 0.8900, and 0.8447, respectively. The pHPZC is affected by chitosan concentration, while the crosslinker concentration influences the SW, and the contact time most significantly affected the EWC. Morphology and hardness tests, thermal stability, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, allowed verifying the types of crosslinking of chitosan with TPP and CH2O.

Bioactive Sr(II)/Chitosan/Poly(ε-caprolactone) Scaffolds for Craniofacial Tissue Regeneration. In Vitro and In Vivo Behavior.

In craniofacial tissue regeneration, the current gold standard treatment is autologous bone grafting, however, it presents some disadvantages. Although new alternatives have emerged there is still an urgent demand of biodegradable scaffolds to act as extracellular matrix in the regeneration process. A potentially useful element in bone regeneration is strontium. It is known to promote stimulation of osteoblasts while inhibiting osteoclasts resorption, leading to neoformed bone. The present paper reports the preparation and characterization of strontium (Sr) containing hybrid scaffolds formed by a matrix of ionically cross-linked chitosan and microparticles of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). These scaffolds of relatively facile fabrication were seeded with osteoblast-like cells (MG-63) and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) for application in craniofacial tissue regeneration. Membrane scaffolds were prepared using chitosan:PCL ratios of 1:2 and 1:1 and 5 wt % Sr salts. Characterization was performed addressing physico-chemical properties, swelling behavior, in vitro biological performance and in vivo biocompatibility. Overall, the composition, microstructure and swelling degree (≈245%) of scaffolds combine with the adequate dimensional stability, lack of toxicity, osteogenic activity in MG-63 cells and hBMSCs, along with the in vivo biocompatibility in rats allow considering this system as a promising biomaterial for the treatment of craniofacial tissue regeneration.