Molecular engineering of a new method for effective removal of cadmium from water

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread and highly toxic environmental pollutant, seriously threatening animal and plant growth. Therefore, monitoring and employing robust tools to enrich and remove Cd from the environment is a major challenge. In this work, by conjugating a fluorescent indicator (CCP) with a functionalized glass slide, a special composite material (CCPB) was constructed to enrich, remove, and monitor Cd²⁺ in water rapidly. Then Cd²⁺ could be effectively eluted by immersing the Cd-enriched CCPB in an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution. With this, the CCPB was continuously reused. Its recovery of Cd²⁺was above and below 100 % after multiple uses by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), which was excellent for practical use in enriching and removing Cd²⁺ in real aqueous samples. Therefore, CCPB is an ideal material for monitoring, enriching, and removing Cd²⁺ in wastewater, providing a robust tool for future practical applications of Cd enrichment and removal in the environment.