Development of micro / nanostructured carbon filtering elements and gauging by chromatographic methods and mass spectrometry for drinking water production

• Grant number: 20/12204-3
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Partnership for Technological Innovation - PITE
• Start date: May 01, 2022
• End date: May 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Agreement: SABESP
• Principal Investigator: Jose Mauricio Rosolen
• Grantee: Jose Mauricio Rosolen
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Ribeirão Preto
• Partner institutions: Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo (SABESP)
• Principal investigators: Luiz Alberto Beraldo de Moraes
• Associated research grant(s): 24/02535-3 - Micro/nanostructured materials for mitigation of legacy and emerging contaminants in waters and wastewaters, AP.R SPRINT
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/09746-0 - Desenvolvimento de Membranas por Eletrospinning e Doctor Blade para Remoção de Gosto e Cheiro de Água, BP.PD; 22/04760-9 - Development of micro/nanostructured carbon filtering elements and gauging by chromatographic methods and mass spectrometry for drinking water production, BP.MS; 22/04887-9 - Development of micro/nanostructured carbon filtering elements and gauging by chromatographic methods and mass spectrometry for drinking water production, BP.MS; 21/08494-9 - Development of micro/nanostructured carbon filtering elements and gauging by chromatographic methods and mass spectrometry for drinking water production, BP.PD

Abstract

The main objective of this project is to develop new technologies for the removal of taste and odor, particularly two semi-volatile compounds 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), geosmin and Nitrosamines where the goal is to replace activated carbon technology and current membranes. Two classes of filter elements and / or adsorbents will be developed and studied. The first involves a class of low-cost particulate micro / nanostructured materials and the other of sandwish-type membranes generated by electrospinning also scalable nanostructured. The nanomaterials to be used for the nanostructuration of these matrices with micrometric or millimetric scale are carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide. These are chemically bonded to micrometric substrates (low-cost fibers or coal) in such a way that they cannot be leached into the environment. The technology to be developed and investigated exploits the excellent adsorption capacity of nanocarbons, but in a way where the substrate also interferes with its electronic, biological, and adsorbent properties. They are hybrid materials with surfaces where there are hydrophobic or hydrophilic regions. These can also be functionalized with various substances without risk of leaching of nanoparticles, as in the case of activated carbon or in the decoration of polymer fibers. For the evaluation and design of the filtering system, the elution of analytes and chromatographic analysis (GC or HPLC) with detection by MS / MS will be used as a measurement technique. Also, several traditional analytical investigation techniques in the nanocarbon area (HRTEM, SEM, AFM, XPS, BET, FTIR, Raman) will be used when necessary to investigate the interaction mechanisms involving the nanocarbons and the substances to be removed. Materials developed through partnerships will also be carried out on ecotoxicity studies. Therefore, the project in question aims at a new generation of adsorbents and separation membrane less susceptible to the various substances responsible for clogging (by-products, biofilms, plastic nanoparticles, nanometric additives from the cosmetics industry, etc.), with a high probability of surpassing currently commercial technologies, using scalable preparation methodologies, mitigating eventual risks of emission of nanomaterials in ecosystems. Although the main focus of the project is on taste and smell, the technology that will be developed has the potential for several other applications in the sector. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MATASSA, ROBERTO; MATTIELLO, SARA; SOARES, GUSTAVO GUERREIRO CANDIDO; LOZANO, JUAN G.; BELTRAN, ANA M.; ZAZZA, COSTANTINO; SANNA, NICO; PHUA, JUN WEI; ROSOLEN, JOSE MAURICIO; DI CICCO, ANDREA; et al. Nanoscale imaging and atomic vibrations of eumelanin superstructures modulated by functionalized micronized graphene oxide. NANOSCALE, v. 17, n. 40, p. 14-pg., 2025-09-17. (20/12204-3)

SALUSSOGLIA, ANA ISABELA PIANOWSKI; SILVA, GABRIEL MATIAS; SOARES, GUSTAVO GUERREIRO CANDIDO; DE LIMA, MARIA EDUARDA; ROSOLEN, JOSE MAURICIO; DE MORAES, LUIZ ALBERTO BERALDO. Carbon nanotube-coated Al₂O₃ materials for removing N-nitrosamines, 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin from water. FULLERENES NANOTUBES AND CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES, v. 32, n. 5, p. 12-pg., 2023-11-30. (20/12204-3)