Abstract
BackgroundCurrent methods of removing organic pollutants from water are becoming ineffective as the world population increases. In this study, a series of biorenewable triblock copolymers with hydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) block and hydrophilic poly(l-lactide) blocks were synthesized and tested as agents to remove environmental pollutants from an aqueous solution. The percent of pollutant removed and equilibrium inclusion constants were calculated for the polymers. These values were compared to previously known removal agents for their effectiveness.ResultsTriblock copolymer samples removed over 70% of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) phenanthrene from an aqueous solution, with selectivity for the adsorption of phenanthrene over other PAHs tested. The inclusion constant was 7.4 × 105 M−1 and adsorption capacity was 5.8 × 10−7 mol phenanthrene/g polymer. Rose Bengal was used to further probe the nature of interactions between the copolymers and a small molecule guest. Solid samples of the block-poly(l-lactide)–block-poly(ε-caprolactone)–block-poly(l-lactide) (PLLA–PCL–PLLA) systems were found to rapidly remove over 90% of Rose Bengal from aqueous solution, resulting in a complete disappearance of the characteristic pink color. Solutions of the copolymers in dichloromethane also removed Rose Bengal from water with a similar level of efficiency. Large inclusion constant values were obtained, ranging from 1.0 × 105 to 7.9 × 105 M−1, and the average adsorption capacity value of 6.2 × 10−7 mol/g polymer was determined. Aged polymer samples exhibited different adsorption characteristics and mechanistic theories for the removal of Rose Bengal were determined.ConclusionThe triblock copolymer consisting of l-lactide and ε-caprolactone was effective in removing various organic pollutants in aqueous environments. It is a biorenewable material which leads to minimal waste production during its lifecycle. These polymers were in general more effective in removing organic pollutants than commercially available pollution removal systems.
Highlights
Providing potable water to a growing global population is complex due to the wide array of pollutants present in water supplies
The results suggest that the poly(llactide) block selectively impacts polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) removal
Copolymers 1 were more efficient in removing small organic pollutants as compared with traditional removal devices such as Brita filters, poly(ethylene imine) (PEI), β-cyclodextrin, and PAMAM dendrimers
Summary
Providing potable water to a growing global population is complex due to the wide array of pollutants present in water supplies. The resulting polymers behave as nanosponges to remove and store the contamination Langer exemplified this approach using poly(lactide) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) copolymer nanoparticles [18]. Hydrophobic pollutants such as bis-phenol A (BPA), phthalates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were removed from the aqueous environment by binding to the nanoparticle surface through the hydrophobic effect. A series of biorenewable triblock copolymers with hydrophobic poly(ε-caprolactone) block and hydrophilic poly(l-lactide) blocks were synthesized and tested as agents to remove environmental pollutants from an aqueous solution. The percent of pollutant removed and equilibrium inclusion constants were calculated for the polymers. These values were compared to previously known removal agents for their effectiveness
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