PBAT membranes containing modified cellulose nanostructures for removal and recovery of metallic ions from wastewater

• Grant number: 23/04147-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: January 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Derval dos Santos Rosa
• Grantee: João Gabriel Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (CECS). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/13703-3 - Environmentally friendly porous materials for the recovery and revaluation of metals reclaimed from contaminated water, AP.TEM

Abstract

The presence of metallic contaminants in drinking water is a serious environmental and public health problem, given these contaminants' high toxicity, non-biodegradability and bioaccumulation potential. While traditional water treatment methods are insufficient to remove potentially toxic metals properly, biodegradable porous membranes containing adsorbent additives stand out as possible materials for removing metal contaminants. This project proposes the development of porous membranes of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) with microfibrillated cellulose and nanofibrillated cellulose (nano cellulose structures (NCS), both chemically modified for the removal of potentially toxic metals (cadmium and zinc) from water. Polymeric membranes will be produced by combining the techniques of evaporation-induced phase separation (EIPS) and non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) using an airbrush to apply the polymer solution to an inert matrix. To the membranes, NCS without structural modifications and modified by reaction with succinic anhydride will be added in order to increase their adsorption capacity and mechanical properties. The cellulose nanostructures will be analyzed by NMR and IR to characterize the chemical modifications performed; surface charge and particle size analytical techniques will be carried out as well. The synthesized membranes will have their chemical structure, adsorption and desorption capacities analyzed, as well as adsorption kinetics studies, to obtain an optimized material with the potential to be used on larger scales for the remediation of metallic contaminants, having a strong mechanical resistance and a high sorption capacity towards the assessed metallic ions.

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)

TISCHER, ANA MARIA; FERREIRA, RAFAELA REIS; RIBEIRO, JOAO GABRIEL; ROSA, DERVAL DOS SANTOS; PAULINO, ALEXANDRE TADEU. Green synthesis of an advanced composite membrane for the purification of water contaminated with potentially toxic metals. JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING, v. 61, p. 12-pg., 2024-04-13. (21/14714-1, 23/04147-8, 20/13703-3, 22/01382-3)