The project titled “Synthesis of Bionanocomposite Films from Chitosan and Nanocellulose for Water Treatment Applications,” led by MSc. Vũ Năng An, focused on developing bio-based materials for efficient wastewater treatment and achieved significant results, including the creation of a biocomposite film that effectively removed pollutants. The research was highly praised, with the team successfully meeting all project objectives, publishing in prestigious journals, and training three bachelor’s degree graduates.

On the afternoon of 28th October, an evaluation meeting was held in room I.12 at the VNUHCM-University of Science for the scientific project C2021-18-24, titled “Synthesis of Bionanocomposite Films from Chitosan and Nanocellulose for Water Treatment Applications,” led by MSc. Vũ Năng An, the project leader and a lecturer at the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology. The project achieved significant results, confirming the potential application of bio-based materials in efficient wastewater treatment.

One of the key accomplishments of the research was the development of a process for synthesising nanocellulose (CNC) from bagasse, an agricultural by-product with little economic value in Viet Nam. In this study, the research team created a three-component biocomposite film consisting of chitosan, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), and silver nanoparticles (mCS/CNC/Ag), with the goal of applying it in water treatment technologies. CNC was synthesised through the hydrolysis of cellulose extracted from bagasse using a mixture of citric acid and hydrochloric acid. The film fabrication process was carried out in two main stages: a freeze-gelation method and a hydrolysis process. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis revealed a porous structure with pore sizes ranging from 50 to 200 µm. The film structure exhibited clear asymmetry, with two surfaces differing in the number and size of pores.

The study also demonstrated the exceptional effectiveness of the film in pollutant removal. The film was able to reduce Methylene Blue (MB) with an efficiency of over 90% within just one minute when NaBH4 was added. The CNC contributed to enhancing the mechanical properties of the film, ensuring that the silver nanoparticles remained firmly bound and did not detach from the film during the MB treatment process. As a result, the film maintained stable performance even after four reuse cycles, offering great potential for practical applications in water treatment technologies.

The VNUHCM Scientific and Technological Project Evaluation Council highly commended the research outcomes, recognising that the team had successfully met the project’s objectives. The project was rated as excellent, with one publication in a domestic scientific journal and one paper in an international Q1 journal, in addition to successfully training three bachelor’s degree graduates. These achievements not only confirmed the quality of the research but also opened up new avenues for the application of bionanocomposite materials in environmental treatment.

Hữu Chí _ Translated by ℙ𝕄ℕ