Oral Presentation Royal Australian Chemical Institute National Congress 2026

Sustainable Alginate/Cellulose–Moringa Composites developed from wet spinning and the Electrospun Technique for Potential Heavy Metal Removal in Water (137801)

ABIMBOLA AO ORISAWAYI 1 2 , Krzysztof KK Koziol 2 , sameer SS Rahatekar 2
  1. Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and EnOlusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, Nigeria
  2. Cranfield University, United Kingdom, BEDFORD, BEDFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom

                                                                                                                                                       Abstract

The development of sustainable, bio-based materials for water purification has attracted increasing research attention due to escalating concerns over heavy metal contamination and the environmental impact of conventional synthetic adsorbents. Our study presents alginate- and cellulose-Moringa oleifera composite fibres that were successfully fabricated using two complementary fibre-forming techniques, electrospinning and wet spinning, to produce multifunctional, biodegradable materials for potential heavy metal removal from water. Electrospun sodium alginate fibres incorporated with pulverised Moringa oleifera seed powder (MoP) exhibited a marked reduction in fibre diameter and increased surface roughness with increasing MoP loading, indicating enhanced surface area and active site availability. Spectroscopic and thermal analyses verified the effective incorporation of MoP and the improved thermal stability of the composite nanofibers. In addition, regenerated cellulose–Moringa oleifera composite fibres were produced via wet spinning using the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethyl phosphate as a green solvent. Structural and morphological characterisation confirmed homogeneous dispersion of MoP within the cellulose matrix. Mechanical testing identified an optimal MoP loading that balanced tensile strength and functional performance. Preliminary adsorption studies demonstrated selective affinity towards Cu²⁺ ions, highlighting the potential for targeted heavy metal removal. Furthermore, wet-spun alginate–MoP fibres showed significant improvements in mechanical properties, enhanced fibre–matrix interactions, and clear evidence of metal ion uptake following exposure to Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cd²⁺ solutions. Overall, this work demonstrates that combining wet spinning and electrospinning enables the tailored fabrication of sustainable alginate/cellulose–Moringa composite fibres with tunable structural, mechanical, and functional properties. These materials present a scalable, eco-friendly platform for potential advanced water treatment applications.

Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Nigeria, through the Petroleum Technology Development Fund award for the Postgraduate Scholarship at Ph.D. level Funding with funding number. PTDF/ED/OSS/PHD/AOO/1844/2020PHD152

References 

Orisawayi, A. O., Koziol, K., & Rahatekar, S. (2026). Bio-Based Composites of Alginate, Cellulose, and Moringa Oleifera for Heavy Metal Removal in Water Purification: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanisms, Fabrication, and Performance. Environmental Science: Advances.

Orisawayi, A. O., Boylla, P., Koziol, K. K., & Rahatekar, S. S. (2025). Sustainable wet-spun cellulose-Moringa oleifera composite fibres for potential water purification. RSC advances, 15(22), 17730-17745.

Orisawayi, A. O., Koziol, K. K., & Rahatekar, S. S. (2025). Development and characterisation of integrated wet-spun alginate-Moringa oleifera composite fibers for potential water purification. Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications, 9, 100620.

Orisawayi, A. O., Koziol, K., Hao, S., Tiwari, S., & Rahatekar, S. S. (2024). Development of hybrid electrospun alginate-pulverized moringa composites. RSC advances, 14(12), 8502-8512.