Development of floating 3D-microfloral CuO-polysulfone beads for wastewater treatment

Abstract

Sustainable recycling of earth-abundant transition metals and water-overwhelming macroplastics are currently needed to alleviate depletion of resources and risks posed against environmental sustainability and health. In this contribution, copper metal recovered from an electronic waste was used to fabricate microfloral copper(II)oxide (CuO) particles via an anodized metastable pathway. Interaction of the latter with hot polysulfone in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) led to the formation of a floating photocatalyst via a non-solvent phase separation. The catalyst was used for the degradation of humic acid and flavonoid dyes in the presence or absence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a light-emitting diode (LED) and sunlight. A pyramidal triangular model was used to predict the life cycle of H2O2 while an enhanced photocatalytic property was observed after irradiation with light. The as-synthesized materials showed attractiveness for the degradation of phenolic and carboxylic acid-bearing organic pollutants in water.