Synergistic Poly (vinyl alcohol) -Alginate Hydrogel Beads: A Novel Bio-Polymeric Approach for Sustainable Soil Decontamination

Arsenic pollution in soil poses major environmental and health problems, particularly in regions with industrial waste and pesticide use. This study investigated the of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-alginate hydrogel beads as a long-term solutions for arsenic removal in soil. The beads were developed via simple cross-linking method and characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, and TGA techniques. The hydrogel beads have a porous structure with the functional groups (-OH and -COOH) required for arsenic ion adsorption, with an optimum capacity of 110 mg/g at pH 5. Adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm framework, with electrostatic interactions and surface complexation performing important roles. Pot experiments revealed a 65% reduction in the arsenic content in treated soils, whereas the beads retained more than 95% of their efficiency after five regeneration cycles. This environmentally friendly process provides an efficient, cost-effective, and reusable alternative to long-term arsenic soil remediation, making it a viable solution for reducing pollution and promoting safer farming practices.