Preparation and Characterization of Nanoparticle-Doped Polymer Inclusion Membranes. Application to the Removal of Arsenate and Phosphate from Waters

Nanoparticle-doped polymer inclusion membranes (NP-PIMs) have been prepared and characterized as new materials for the removal of arsenate and phosphate from waters. PIMs are made of a polymer, cellulose triacetate (CTA), and an extractant, which interacts with the compound of interest. We have used...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Enriqueta Anticó, Ruben Vera, Francisco Vázquez, Clàudia Fontàs, Changyong Lu, Josep Ros
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/878
_version_ 1797396730914799616
author Enriqueta Anticó
Ruben Vera
Francisco Vázquez
Clàudia Fontàs
Changyong Lu
Josep Ros
author_facet Enriqueta Anticó
Ruben Vera
Francisco Vázquez
Clàudia Fontàs
Changyong Lu
Josep Ros
author_sort Enriqueta Anticó
collection DOAJ
description Nanoparticle-doped polymer inclusion membranes (NP-PIMs) have been prepared and characterized as new materials for the removal of arsenate and phosphate from waters. PIMs are made of a polymer, cellulose triacetate (CTA), and an extractant, which interacts with the compound of interest. We have used the ionic liquid (IL) trioctylmethylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336) as the extractant and have investigated how the addition of nanoparticles can modify membrane properties. To this end, inorganic nanoparticles, such as ferrite (Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>), SiO<sub>2</sub> and TiO<sub>2</sub>, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), were blended with the polymer/extractant mixture. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and contact angle measurements have been used to characterize the material. Moreover, PIM stability was checked by measuring the mass loss during the experiments. Since Aliquat 336 acts as an anion exchanger, the NP-PIMs have been explored in two different applications: (i) as sorbent materials for the extraction of arsenate and phosphate anions; (ii) as an organic phase for the separation of arsenate and phosphate in a three-phase system. The presence of oleate-coated ferrite NP in the PIM formulation represents an improvement in the efficiency of NP-PIMs used as sorbents; nevertheless, a decrease in the transport efficiency for arsenate but not for phosphate was obtained. The ease with which the NP-PIMs are prepared suggests good potential for future applications in the treatment of polluted water. Future work will address three main aspects: firstly, the implementation of the Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-PIMs for the removal of As(V) in real water containing complex matrices; secondly, the study of phosphate recovery with other cell designs that allow large volumes of contaminated water to be treated; and thirdly, the investigation of the role of MWCNTs in PIM stability.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T00:55:44Z
format Article
id doaj.art-8edfd688da134f74a051d80419c6a71f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1996-1944
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T00:55:44Z
publishDate 2021-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Materials
spelling doaj.art-8edfd688da134f74a051d80419c6a71f2023-12-11T16:54:20ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442021-02-0114487810.3390/ma14040878Preparation and Characterization of Nanoparticle-Doped Polymer Inclusion Membranes. Application to the Removal of Arsenate and Phosphate from WatersEnriqueta Anticó0Ruben Vera1Francisco Vázquez2Clàudia Fontàs3Changyong Lu4Josep Ros5Departament de Química, Universitat de Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17003 Girona, SpainDepartament de Química, Universitat de Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17003 Girona, SpainDepartament de Química, Universitat de Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17003 Girona, SpainDepartament de Química, Universitat de Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17003 Girona, SpainDepartment of Plants and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1871 Frederiksberg, DenmarkDepartament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, SpainNanoparticle-doped polymer inclusion membranes (NP-PIMs) have been prepared and characterized as new materials for the removal of arsenate and phosphate from waters. PIMs are made of a polymer, cellulose triacetate (CTA), and an extractant, which interacts with the compound of interest. We have used the ionic liquid (IL) trioctylmethylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336) as the extractant and have investigated how the addition of nanoparticles can modify membrane properties. To this end, inorganic nanoparticles, such as ferrite (Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>), SiO<sub>2</sub> and TiO<sub>2</sub>, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), were blended with the polymer/extractant mixture. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and contact angle measurements have been used to characterize the material. Moreover, PIM stability was checked by measuring the mass loss during the experiments. Since Aliquat 336 acts as an anion exchanger, the NP-PIMs have been explored in two different applications: (i) as sorbent materials for the extraction of arsenate and phosphate anions; (ii) as an organic phase for the separation of arsenate and phosphate in a three-phase system. The presence of oleate-coated ferrite NP in the PIM formulation represents an improvement in the efficiency of NP-PIMs used as sorbents; nevertheless, a decrease in the transport efficiency for arsenate but not for phosphate was obtained. The ease with which the NP-PIMs are prepared suggests good potential for future applications in the treatment of polluted water. Future work will address three main aspects: firstly, the implementation of the Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-PIMs for the removal of As(V) in real water containing complex matrices; secondly, the study of phosphate recovery with other cell designs that allow large volumes of contaminated water to be treated; and thirdly, the investigation of the role of MWCNTs in PIM stability.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/878polymer inclusion membranesnanoparticlesmultiwalled carbon nanotubesarsenatephosphateremoval
spellingShingle Enriqueta Anticó
Ruben Vera
Francisco Vázquez
Clàudia Fontàs
Changyong Lu
Josep Ros
Preparation and Characterization of Nanoparticle-Doped Polymer Inclusion Membranes. Application to the Removal of Arsenate and Phosphate from Waters
Materials
polymer inclusion membranes
nanoparticles
multiwalled carbon nanotubes
arsenate
phosphate
removal
title Preparation and Characterization of Nanoparticle-Doped Polymer Inclusion Membranes. Application to the Removal of Arsenate and Phosphate from Waters
title_full Preparation and Characterization of Nanoparticle-Doped Polymer Inclusion Membranes. Application to the Removal of Arsenate and Phosphate from Waters
title_fullStr Preparation and Characterization of Nanoparticle-Doped Polymer Inclusion Membranes. Application to the Removal of Arsenate and Phosphate from Waters
title_full_unstemmed Preparation and Characterization of Nanoparticle-Doped Polymer Inclusion Membranes. Application to the Removal of Arsenate and Phosphate from Waters
title_short Preparation and Characterization of Nanoparticle-Doped Polymer Inclusion Membranes. Application to the Removal of Arsenate and Phosphate from Waters
title_sort preparation and characterization of nanoparticle doped polymer inclusion membranes application to the removal of arsenate and phosphate from waters
topic polymer inclusion membranes
nanoparticles
multiwalled carbon nanotubes
arsenate
phosphate
removal
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/4/878
work_keys_str_mv AT enriquetaantico preparationandcharacterizationofnanoparticledopedpolymerinclusionmembranesapplicationtotheremovalofarsenateandphosphatefromwaters
AT rubenvera preparationandcharacterizationofnanoparticledopedpolymerinclusionmembranesapplicationtotheremovalofarsenateandphosphatefromwaters
AT franciscovazquez preparationandcharacterizationofnanoparticledopedpolymerinclusionmembranesapplicationtotheremovalofarsenateandphosphatefromwaters
AT claudiafontas preparationandcharacterizationofnanoparticledopedpolymerinclusionmembranesapplicationtotheremovalofarsenateandphosphatefromwaters
AT changyonglu preparationandcharacterizationofnanoparticledopedpolymerinclusionmembranesapplicationtotheremovalofarsenateandphosphatefromwaters
AT josepros preparationandcharacterizationofnanoparticledopedpolymerinclusionmembranesapplicationtotheremovalofarsenateandphosphatefromwaters