Straightforward and effective removal of phenolic compounds from water by Polydopamine coated Diatomaceous Earth

Diatom microalgae and their fossil Diatomaceous Earth (DE) are an abundant source of mesoporous silica, acting as a low-cost natural nanotextured material. Here we report a straightforward coating method of DE with polydopamine (PDA), an adhesive biocompatible organic polymer that is spontaneously generated by oxidative polymerization of dopamine in mild basic aqueous conditions. The resulting PDA-DE is expected to be a promising porous material for environmental remediation of seawater since it interacts with phenolic species used as model pollutants, enabling their removal from aqueous media.