Green construction of self-floating polysaccharide-based hydrogels with catalytic activity for efficient organic pollutants reduction.

This study employed an anionic heteropolysaccharide extracted from overgrown Enteromorpha and homopolysaccharide pullulan to fabricate a self-floating hydrogel by introducing bubble templates. Subsequently, green in-situ reduction and immobilization of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in the hydrogel were successfully achieved without additional reducing agents. The heteropolysaccharide from Enteromorpha provides carboxyl and sulfate groups for Ag+ ions complexation, which is beneficial for the in-situ reduction of Ag NPs and inhibits their aggregation. The incorporation of bubble templates facilitates the creation of a hierarchical pore structure in the hydrogel, giving it self-floating properties for easy recycling, while the hierarchical network with rich anchor sites ensuring adequate traction for Ag NPs dispersion and stabilization. By adjusting polysaccharide content and using bubble templates, Ag NPs smaller than 10 nm can be obtained. The composite hydrogel exhibits tunable catalytic activity and excellent degradation towards Rhodamine B, Methyl Orange, and 4-Nitrophenol, with the normalized rate constant (k nor) of 78.89, 59.08, and 30.42 min−1 g−1, respectively. Notably, the reduction efficiency remained above 98 % after 6 recycles with little leaching of Ag NPs, benefiting from its self-floating ability for easy recovery in practical applications. [Display omitted] • Heteropolysaccharide Ep from overgrown Enteromorpha is effectively utilized. • Green synthesis of eco-friendly Ep/pullulan hydrogels. • Bubble template gives hydrogel hierarchical pores and self-floating properties. • Green-situ reduction and immobilization of Ag NPs in hydrogels. • The hydrogel catalyst with high catalytic activity and easy for recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]