Nanocomposite membranes containing nanoparticles chemically modified with plasma: the effect of plasma to develop high-performance membranes for environmental remediation

• Grant number: 24/15696-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: November 30, 2024
• End date: November 29, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Lucia Helena Innocentini Mei
• Grantee: Paulo Henrique Camani
• Supervisor: Vijaya Rangari
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Tuskegee University (TU), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/11229-0 - Biodegradable porous composite membranes based on PLA containing nanoclay/nanocellulose for removal and recovery of PTEs from contaminated water, BP.PD

Abstract

The conventional water treatment to remove potentially toxic elements (PTEs) cannot efficiently capture the toxic metal ions from contaminated water. In this context, adsorptive membranes containing nanoparticles can be a promising approach to remove PTEs into contaminated water. However, if the nanoparticles are encapsulated or do not disperse homogeneously throughout the polymer matrix, the efficiency of the PTE capture system will be compromised. Thus, this project aims to chemically modify the surface of nanocellulose/nanoclays to improve their dispersion throughout the matrix by inserting functional groups created by low-temperature plasma irradiation on their surfaces. Variations of gases during plasma irradiation, such as SF6, O2, and Ar/NH3, will be performed, as well as other parameters, to achieve the desired surface modification of the particles with enhanced capacity to remove the toxic metal ions. After, these modified nanoparticles will be introduced inside the poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix to fabricate the adsorptive nanocomposites obtained by the electrospinning process, subsequently evaluating their intrinsic properties and applications as adsorbents. The primary investigations of the nanoparticle's dispersion through the polymer matrix will be based on microscopic analysis such as SEM, TEM, SEM-EDS, and FE-SEM). Besides, it is expected that an erosion of the nanocomposite membrane surface from low-temperature plasma using air will expose active sites of the modified nanoparticles, enhancing their capacity to capture PTEs. The effect of this plasma irradiation in the morphological and structural aspects and sorption tests of the hexavalent chromium (Cr6+), such as equilibrium sorption tests, pH evaluation, and kinetic studies, will be investigated and related to the system's efficiency. These results will help to comprehend the adsorptive performance of the modified nanoparticles and nanocomposite membranes non-treated and treated with cold air plasma treatment. It is expected that such a cold plasma irradiation method can create active functional groups on the nanoparticles' surface, promoting their homogeneous dispersion into the polymer membrane and, at the same time, enhancing the applicability of these membranes to retain and adsorb Cr6+.

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)

DA COSTA, TALLES B.; CAMANI, PAULO H.; FERREIRA, RAFAELA R.; SOUZA, ALANA G.; VIEIRA, MELISSA G. A.; ROSA, DERVAL DOS S.. Sustainable starch-microcellulose composite hydrogels for efficient removal of heavy metals from water. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 317, p. 16-pg., 2025-06-01. (23/11783-8, 19/16301-6, 21/08296-2, 24/08105-0, 22/01382-3, 24/15696-5, 22/11133-0, 23/11229-0, 20/13703-3)

DA COSTA, TALLES B.; CAMANI, PAULO H.; FERREIRA, RAFAELA R.; BARBOSA, RENNAN F. S.; ROSA, DERVAL DOS S.. Enhancing Corn Starch Hydrogels for Effective Sorption of Potentially Toxic Metals: The Role of Amylose and Amylopectin Content. JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, v. 33, n. 3, p. 21-pg., 2025-01-25. (22/01382-3, 19/16301-6, 24/08105-0, 21/08296-2, 22/11133-0, 23/11783-8, 24/15696-5, 20/13703-3, 23/11229-0)