Application of polyurethane foam/zinc oxide nanocomposite for antibacterial activity, detection, and removal of basic dyes from wastewater

Abstract In this paper, a new multifunctional nanocomposite was synthesized to combine both the advantages of sorption properties and antibacterial efficiency. The thiourea polyurethane/zinc oxide prepared by coupling polyurethane foam zinc nanoparticles. characterized using several tools. change in surface chemistry (surface area increased from 2.8 10.6 m 2 /g), due attached functional groups, its properties. Also, showed crystalline phase, embedded inside amorphous structure, with good thermal stability 230 °C. pore volume radius were 0.017 cm 3 /g 3.4 nm mesopores/micropores ratio 11:1. It combines collecting pollutants on surface, ability degrade these pollutants, effect. Thiourea applied for removing toluidine blue brilliant green basic dyes wastewater. Several parameters such as pH, dye concentration, temperature, time studied. removal percentages wastewater 92.4–98.2% at pH 3–12. rate very fast (3–5 min) 25 estimated capacities 92 227 mg/g. process spontaneous (Δ G − 7.3 8.6). As result, applicability an effective renewable sorbent cationic maintained.