Polymer/BiOBr-Modified Gauze as a Dual-Functional Membrane for Heavy Metal Removal and Photocatalytic Dye Decolorization.

Chi-Jung Chang,Chih-Feng Huang,Ying-Jen Chen,Chen-Yi Chou,Pei-Yao Chao

doi:10.3390/polym12092082

Chi-Jung Chang, Chih-Feng Huang + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12092082

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Journal: Polymers	Publication Date: Sep 13, 2020
Citations: 11	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Feng Chia University, National Chung Hsing University

Abstract

It is crucial to remove heavy metals and dyes before discharging industrial effluents. Gauze substrate was surface-modified by coating with a polymeric adsorbent and a spray coating of BiOBr photocatalyst to develop a novel dual-functional membrane, polymer/BiOBr-modified gauze, for water remediation. The polymeric adsorbent was crosslinked to prevent the dissolving of the adsorbent during operation in contaminated water. The morphology and surface chemistry of the modified gauze were characterized before and after the adsorption of Ni2+. The surface wettability, isotherms, and kinetics of Ni2+ adsorption were studied. We also studied the effect of pH, initial Ni2+ concentration, monomer molar ratio, and monomer chemical structure on the Ni2+ adsorption capacity. To achieve a high Ni2+ adsorption capacity and good photocatalytic decolorization activity, the amount of decorated BiOBr was tuned by changing the spray-coating time to optimize the exposed BiOBr and polymer on the surface. The optimized dual-functional membrane PB20 possesses excellent adsorption capacity (650 mg g−1) for Ni2+ ions and photocatalytic decolorization activity (100% degradation of RhB within 7 min). Decorating the optimized amount of BiOBr on the surface can introduce photocatalytic decolorization activity without sacrificing the adsorption capacity for Ni2+.

Highlights

Heavy metal ions in industrial effluents have been a serious problem
Toxic heavy metal ions should be removed from industrial effluents to minimize the environmental impact of effluents toward water bodies
BiOBr was dispersed in the above-mentioned solution and deposited on the polymer-modified gauze by spray-coating and thermal curing to obtain the polymer/BiOBr-modified gauze as a dual functional membrane that possesses high adsorption capacity for Ni2+ ion and good photocatalytic decolorization activity

Summary

Introduction

Heavy metal ions in industrial effluents have been a serious problem. Soluble heavy metal ions will accumulate in living organisms, leading to some diseases. Several heavy metals are found in the effluents of many industries. Nickel is a transition metal with moderate toxicity. It can cause skin disorders, such as allergic reactions and dermatitis. Toxic heavy metal ions should be removed from industrial effluents to minimize the environmental impact of effluents toward water bodies. There has been an urgent need to remove heavy metals and dyes in industrial wastewater by appropriate processes [6,7,8,9,10,11]

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