The development of a nanocolloidal graphene-derived material for water purification and remediation

禅雅塔投资有限公司（禅雅塔）正在开发一个大型的与火成岩有关的高纯度天然石墨矿床。**石墨的高质量提供了比其他公司在石墨烯生产方面的市场优势。为了满足市场需求，扩大禅雅塔产品的适销性，公司正在评估新的大批量工业石墨烯应用。石墨烯用于水净化和修复是这种材料的一个有前途的应用。禅雅塔曾尝试使用氧化石墨烯来净化水，但迄今为止还没有成功。**拟建的研究项目旨在探索和开发石墨烯衍生材料，用于**水中重金属污染的净化和废水修复。最近，申请人的**小组提出了一种来自石墨烯量子点（GQDs）和纤维素**纳米晶体（cnc）的新型纳米胶体材料。这种材料在从重金属离子中净化水方面具有许多优点，即：可持续性、无毒性、低成本、大而可调的孔径用于水和金属离子的大量运输，以及可循环利用的能力。**本研究的关键组成部分包括：(i)禅雅塔石墨制备GQD，**用氨基修饰GQD，以及表征GQD的性质；（ii）用醛基团修饰**CNC表面和表征CNC性能；（iii） GQD-CNC水凝胶的制备及表征；（iv） GQD-CNC水凝胶**对重金属离子的清除效率研究。本建议所述的项目将发展一项新技术，有效地净化水中的重金属污染物和修复废水，从而提高制造、发牌和其他商业活动的潜力

Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. (Zenyatta) is developing a large deposit of igneous-related high-purity natural graphite.**The higher quality of graphite offers a market advantage over other companies in graphene production. In**order to satisfy market needs and expand the marketability of Zenyatta's products, the company is evaluating**new high-volume industrial graphene applications. The use of graphene for a water purification and**remediation is a promising application of this material. Zenyatta has attempted to use graphene oxide for water**purification, however to date it has not been successful.**The proposed research project aims at the exploration and development of graphene-derived material for the**purification of water from heavy metal contaminations and wastewater remediation. Recently, the applicant's**group has proposed a new nanocolloidal material derived from graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and cellulose**nanocrystals (CNCs). This material offers many advantages in water purification from heavy metal ions, i.e.,**sustainability, non-toxicity, low cost, large and tunable pore size for mass transport of water and metal ions,**and the capability to be recycled.**The key components of the proposed research include (i) the preparation of GQDs from Zenyatta graphite,**modification of GQDs with amino groups, and characterization of GQD properties; (ii) the modification of the**CNC surface with aldehyde groups and characterization of CNC properties; (iii) preparation and**characterization of GQD-CNC hydrogels; (iv) a study of the scavenging efficiency of the GQD-CNC hydrogels**for heavy metal ions. The project described in the present proposal will lead to the development of a new**technology that will enable effective purification of water from heavy metal contaminations and wastewater**remediation, thereby enhancing the potential for manufacturing, licensing and other commercial activities by