Synthesis, characterization and application of nanoparticles in wastewater treatment

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe present research work focused on the synthesis of silica nanoparticles and their surface modifications using layer-by-layer (L-b-L) coating with low molecular-weight chitosan. The surface-modified nanoparticles were employed in the treatment of textile industry effluent. A series of batch experimental studies were performed in the treatment of textile industry effluent by varying the effluent solution pH, contact time, dosage of nanoparticles and stirring speed. Characterizations of the synthesized nanoparticles before and after surface modification are performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The experimental observations showed that the sizes of both silica and surface-modified particles are less than 335 nm. The effectiveness of nanoparticles in the treatment of textile mill effluent was studied by assessing the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity and Conductivity before and after treatment. The experimental result demonstrates that the surface-modified particles could effectively reduce the pollutants from textile industry effluent.