Bionanocomposites based on layered silicates and cationic starch as adsorbents of hexavalent chromium

Abstract

The combination of clay minerals and biopolymers allows the preparation of low cost and ecological bionanocomposites. In the last decades, these materials have emerged as a new group of advanced materials provided with improved structural and functional properties, but also exhibiting a non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable character (Darder et al., 2007; Ruiz-Hitzky et al., 2008). Layered silicates of the smectite family are the most commonly used inorganic solids in the preparation of these bionanocomposite materials (Ruiz-Hitzky et al., 2011). Among many other uses, bionanocomposites are receiving application in the last years in environmental remediation, mainly as biosorbents for removal of pollutants from water.