Abstract
Nanomaterials with tunable properties show promise because of their size-dependent electronic structure and controllable physical properties. The purpose of this research was to develop and validate environmentally safe nanomaterial-based approach for treatment of drinking water including removal and degradation of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS). PFAS are surfactant chemicals with broad uses that are now recognized as contaminants with a significant risk to human health. They are commonly used in household and industrial products. They are extremely persistent in the environment because they possess both hydrophobic fluorine-saturated carbon chains and hydrophilic functional groups, along with being oleophobic. Traditional drinking water treatment technologies are usually ineffective for the removal of PFAS from contaminated waters, because they are normally present in exiguous concentrations and have unique properties that make them persistent. Therefore, there is a critical need for safe and efficient remediation methods for PFAS, particularly in drinking water. The proposed novel approach has also a potential application for decreasing PFAS background levels in analytical systems. In this study, nanocomposite membranes composed of sulfonated poly ether ether ketone (SPEEK) and two-dimensional phosphorene were fabricated, and they obtained on average 99% rejection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) alongside with a 99% removal from the PFOA that accumulated on surface of the membrane. The removal of PFOA accumulated on the membrane surface achieved 99% after the membranes were treated with ultraviolet (UV) photolysis and liquid aerobic oxidation.
Highlights
IntroductionPhosphorene is a direct and narrow band gap semiconductor, it could efficiently harvest low energy photons during photocatalysis, which can be tuned appropriately for photon absorption in the ultraviolet, visible light and the near-infrared region of the solar spectrum
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims and Center of Membrane Sciences, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, 177 FPAT, KY 40506-0046, USA; Institute of Drug & Biotherapeutic Innovation, Saint Louis University, 1100 South Grand Blvd, Saint Louis, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, 1100 S
This shows that unmodified membranes were more hydrophilic, while phosphorene membranes had a more hydrophobic nature that is associated with the presence of the more hydrophobic phosphorene
Summary
Phosphorene is a direct and narrow band gap semiconductor, it could efficiently harvest low energy photons during photocatalysis, which can be tuned appropriately for photon absorption in the ultraviolet, visible light and the near-infrared region of the solar spectrum These properties of phosphorene have the potential to be explored in designing low fouling surfaces, such as membranes for contaminant removal. There have been several studies performed that show evidence of PFAS having adverse effects on human health because of their environmental persistence and widespread human exposure and toxicity [21,22,23] They are extremely persistent in the environment because they possess both hydrophobic fluorine-saturated carbon chains and hydrophilic functional groups, along with being oleophobic [24]. In 2009, the EPA labeled two PFAS substances, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), as contaminants of potential concern in drinking water [27], and it has set a lifetime health advisory at 70 ng/L for PFAS in drinking water [28]
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