Adsorption Techniques for Heparin Recovery and Metal Ion Removal
Summary
Adsorption has emerged as a versatile and cost-effective strategy for both the extraction of heparin from biological matrices and the removal of toxic metal ions from aqueous environments. In heparin recovery, the process relies on tailored adsorbents bearing cationic or ion-exchange functionalities that selectively bind the highly anionic glycosaminoglycan. Materials ranging from modified natural silicas and clays to engineered metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer high surface area, adjustable porosity and tunable surface chemistry. In the domain of metal ion removal, polymer-based adsorbents, chitosan composites and nanostructured materials exploit chelation and electrostatic attraction to capture ions such as Cu(II), Zn(II), Cr(VI) and Fe(II) with high capacities. Key challenges include balancing adsorption capacity with regenerability, ensuring biocompatibility for pharmaceutical grades of heparin and achieving environmental sustainability in wastewater treatment. Advances in surface functionalisation, mechanistic understanding through kinetic and thermodynamic modelling, and the integration of composite materials are driving progress towards scalable, green adsorption processes with global relevance for healthcare and water safety.
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Adsorption Techniques for Heparin Recovery and Metal Ion Removal publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in adsorption techniques for heparin recovery and metal ion removal across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Adsorption isotherm: A curve describing the equilibrium relationship between the concentration of a solute in the fluid phase and the amount adsorbed on the solid surface at constant temperature.
Langmuir isotherm: A model that assumes monolayer adsorption onto a homogeneous surface with a finite number of identical sites and no interactions between adsorbed molecules.
Pseudo-second-order kinetics: A rate model in which the adsorption rate is proportional to the square of the number of unoccupied sites, often indicative of chemisorption processes.
Metal-organic framework (MOF): A class of porous crystalline materials consisting of metal ions or clusters coordinated to organic ligands, notable for exceptionally high surface areas and tunable pore structures.
Cationic functionalisation: The chemical modification of a surface to introduce positively charged groups, enhancing selective binding of negatively charged species such as heparin.
References
- Modified Diatomaceous Earth in Heparin Recovery from Porcine Intestinal Mucosa. Molecules (2023).
- Efficient Heparin Recovery from Porcine Intestinal Mucosa Using Zeolite Imidazolate Framework-8. Molecules (2022).
- Efficient and Economic Heparin Recovery from Porcine Intestinal Mucosa Using Quaternary Ammonium-Functionalized Silica Gel. Bioengineering (2022).
- Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Wastewater with Poly-ε-Caprolactone-Reinforced Chitosan Composite. Polymers (2022).
- Preparation, characterization, and application of chitosan-silver nanoparticles for Cu(II) and Zn(II) removal from oil refinery wastewater. Desalination and Water Treatment (2024).
- Preparation and characterization of bioadsorbent beads for chromium and zinc ions adsorption. Sustainable Environment (2017).
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