High efficiency removal of dissolved As(III) using iron nanoparticle-embedded macroporous polymer composites

Savina, Irina N., English, Christopher J., Whitby, Raymond L.D., Zheng, Yishan, Leistner, Andre, Mikhalovsky, Sergey V. and Cundy, Andrew B. (2011) High efficiency removal of dissolved As(III) using iron nanoparticle-embedded macroporous polymer composites. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 192 (3), 1002-1008. (doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.06.003).

Abstract

Novel nanocomposite materials where iron nanoparticles are embedded into the walls of a macroporous polymer were produced and their efficiency for the removal of As(III) from aqueous media was studied. Nanocomposite gels containing ?-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared by cryopolymerisation resulting in a monolithic structure with large interconnected pores up to 100 ?m in diameter and possessing a high permeability (ca. 3 × 10?3 m s?1). The nanocomposite devices showed excellent capability for the removal of trace concentrations of As(III) from solution, with a total capacity of up to 3 mg As/g of nanoparticles. The leaching of iron was minimal and the device could operate in a pH range 3–9 without diminishing removal efficiency. The effect of competing ions such as SO42? and PO43? was negligible. The macroporous composites can be easily configured into a variety of shapes and structures and the polymer matrix can be selected from a variety of monomers, offering high potential as flexible metal cation remediation devices.

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Contributors

Author: Andrew B. Cundy

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