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Surface modified electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes for extracting nanoparticles from water
Narahari Mahanta1, Suresh Valiyaveettil
1Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.
Nanoscale
|September 10, 2011
Summary
Functionalized polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers (PVA NFs) effectively remove silver and gold nanoparticles from water. Modified PVA NFs demonstrate high extraction efficiency, offering a solution for nanocontaminant removal in aqueous environments.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Nanomaterial contamination in water is a growing environmental concern.
- Incorporation of nanomaterials in products and improper disposal exacerbate the issue.
- Effective methods for removing nanosized contaminants from water are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers (PVA NFs) for extracting nanosized contaminants from water.
- To investigate the impact of surface functionalization on the extraction efficiency of PVA NFs.
- To assess the adsorption capacity of modified PVA NFs for silver and gold nanoparticles.
Main Methods:
- Electrospun polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers (PVA NFs) with diameters of 300-500 nm were fabricated.
- PVA NFs were chemically modified with thiol and amine functional groups.
- Adsorption studies were conducted using model silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles in an aqueous environment.
Main Results:
- Amine and thiol modified PVA NFs achieved 90% extraction efficiency for both Ag and Au nanoparticles.
- Maximum adsorption capacities (Q(t)) for Au NPs were 79-84 mg g(-1) with functionalized PVA NFs.
- Amine functionalized PVA NFs showed a Q(t) of 56 mg g(-1) for Ag NP extraction.
Conclusions:
- Functionalized nanofibers exhibit high extraction efficiency for dissolved nanoparticles in water.
- Modified PVA NFs are a promising material for removing nanocontaminants from aqueous environments.
- This approach offers a viable strategy for mitigating future water contamination issues related to nanomaterials.
