EAGER: Magnetic Carbon Nanocomposites for Heavy Metal Removal from Polluted Water

1137441郭磁性碳纳米复合材料(MCNCs)结合了磁性和优异的吸附能力，在环境修复中可以发挥巨大的作用。这一方案的前提是具有可控固有结构的MCNCs作为新型吸附剂在净化低浓度重金属废水方面具有巨大的前景，这对现有的包括单一活性碳吸附在内的技术提出了挑战。目前对MCNCs在环境修复方面的性能几乎一无所知，尤其是具有不同碳结构的MCNCs。同样重要的是，关于哪种MCNC最适合去除重金属，人们几乎一无所知。然而，我们的初步结果表明，操纵的MCNCs可以通过去除痕量重金属来净化废水，以满足EPA的要求。本研究的目的是操纵不同有机-无机杂化材料的MCNCs的内在结构，并评价其去除重金属的性能。提出了一种以新型多壁碳纳米管为辅助材料的磁场辅助工艺，以解决中心环境修复技术难题。这一过程将服从于易回收的MCNCs和重金属。拟议项目的挑战是确定去除重金属的最佳MCNCs。研究工作分为三个紧密耦合的研究方向：(1)从商业和实验室制备的纳米粒子合成不同的有机-无机杂化材料：将制备出具有不同物理化学结构的薄膜和纳米纤维，(2)通过获得的最佳制备工艺(稳定和碳化温度和时间)制备具有可控纳米结构(固体、多孔和半渗透)的新型MCNCs家族，以及(3)重金属去除性能测试。这将促进提供下一代多功能吸附剂所需的知识，并提供变革性的环境修复纳米技术。我们的工作将对快速发展的吸附剂领域产生重大影响。采用MCNCs现场辅助分离工艺，可使低浓度重金属废水的处理达到美国环保局对铬(VI)释放量的要求。与这些公司的密切联系将促进新的环境纳米技术迅速商业化，并加快服务社会/社区的技术。这些基础研究为将化学、化学/环境工程、材料科学与工程、电化学等学科融为一体的新型MCNCs的工程化探索奠定了基础。这一跨学科项目将为教育和培训创造许多值得注意的机会。详细介绍了K-12课程的外展、本科教育、国际影响和课程开发。对工业的强烈束缚将带来就业机会。代表不足和女性学生将受到高度重视。

1137441GuoMagnetic carbon nanocomposites (MCNCs) combining magnetic properties and the superior adsorption capability can play an enormous role in environmental remediation. The premise of this proposal is that MCNCs with a controlled intrinstic structure have enormous promise as novel adsorbents for purifying wastewater containing low concentrated heavy metals, which challenges the current existing technologies including the adsorption by sole activated carbon. Almost nothing is currently known about the performance of MCNCs for environmental remediation, especially with different carbon structures. Equally importantly, almost nothing is known regarding which MCNC is best for heavy metal removal. Our preliminary results have demonstrated, however, that the manipulated MCNCs can be used to purify wastewater by removing trace heavy metals to satisfy EPA requirements.The objective of this proposed research is to manipulate intrinsic structures of MCNCs with different organic-inorganic hybrids and to evaluate their heavy metal removal performance. A magnetic field assisted process with the aid of novel MCNCs to tackle the central environmental remediation technique challenge is proposed. This process would be amenable to easy-recycling MCNCs and heavy metals. The challenge of the proposed project is to determine the optimum MCNCs for heavy metal removal. The research efforts are grouped into three closely coupled research thrusts: (1) synthesis of different organic-inorganic hybrids from both commercial and lab-made nanoparticles: both thin films and nanofibers will be prepared, with various physicochemical structures, (2) preparation of a new family of MCNCs with controllable nanostructure (solid, porous and semi-permeable) by the obtained optimum fabrication process (stabilization and carbonization temperature and time), and (3) heavy metal removal performance test. This will advance the knowledge required to provide next-generation multifunctional adsorbents and provide transformative environmental remediation nanotechnology. Our work will make a significant impact on the rapidly developing field of adsorbents. The field assisted separation process with the aid of MCNCs will make the treatment of the wastewater containing lowly concentrated heavy metals satisfying the EPA requirement for the released Cr(VI). The intimate connection with the companies will foster quick commercialization of the new environmental nanotechnology and expedite the techniques in serving society/community. The fundamental studies provide a basis to explore novel MCNCs in an engineering way integrating the chemistry, chemical/environmental engineering, materials science and engineering, and electrochemistry into one research topic. This interdisciplinary project will create many noteworthy opportunities for education and training. K-12 outreach, undergraduate education, international impact and curriculum development are detailed. Strong bondage with industry will bring job opportunity. Underrepresented and female students will be highly emphasized.