Biopolymeric Membrane Enriched with Chitosan and Silver for Metallic Ions Removal

Abstract

The present paper synthesized, characterized, and evaluated the performance of the novel biopolymeric membrane enriched with cellulose acetate and chitosan (CHI)-silver (Ag) ions in order to remove iron ion from the synthetic wastewater using a new electrodialysis system. The prepared membranes were characterized by Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy-Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DSC), contact angle measurements, microscopy studies, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The electrodialysis experiments were performed at the different applied voltages (5, 10, and 15 V) for one hour, at room temperature. The treatment rate (TE) of iron ions, current efficiency (IE), and energy consumption (Wc) were calculated. FTIR-ATR spectra evidenced that incorporation of CHI-Ag ions into the polymer mixture led to a polymer-metal ion complex formation within the membrane. The TGA-DSC analysis for the obtained biopolymeric membranes showed excellent thermal stability (>350 °C). The contact angle measurements demonstrated the hydrophobic character of the polymeric membrane and a decrease of it by CHI-Ag adding. The EIS results indicated that the silver ions induced a higher ionic electrical conductivity. The highest value of the iron ions treatment rate (>60%) was obtained for the biopolymeric membrane with CHI-Ag ions at applied voltage of 15 V.

Study of Polyvinyl Alcohol-SiO2 Nanoparticles Polymeric Membrane in Wastewater Treatment Containing Zinc Ions

“…The percentage removal of zinc ions (P r ) was calculated using the following Equation (2) [ 14 , 34 , 36 , 37 ]: where C i and C f are the initial and the final concentrations of zinc ions (mg L −1 ).…”

“…These conventional methods have limitations, such as: large amount of sludge, extra operational cost for sludge disposal, large amount of chemicals for removal of metals from waters and wastewaters, involves large activation energy, low selectivity [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Membrane technologies [ 14 , 15 , 16 ], such as: electrodialysis, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, has been successfully applied in the last decades, at the laboratory scale and at the industrial level, due to the major advantages such as: high efficiency, can function at low temperature, does not require additional chemicals, low environmental impact [ 14 , 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

“…When electric current is passed through the cell compartments of the electrodialysis, anions migrate to the anode electrode and are retained by the negatively charged membranes, while the cations migrate to the cathode electrode and are retained by the positively charged membranes. At the final of the electrodialysis process with three compartments, as a result of the transport process, the solution from the central compartment will be diluted in pollutants, and the solution from the anodic compartment will be enriched/concentrated in pollutants [ 14 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Electrodialysis has been successfully applied at the laboratory scale and at the industrial level for treated waters and wastewaters containing contaminants and products, such as: heavy metal ions [ 14 , 17 , 18 ], acids [ 19 ], dyes [ 16 , 20 ], and organic matter [ 16 , 19 ].…”

“…At the final of the electrodialysis process with three compartments, as a result of the transport process, the solution from the central compartment will be diluted in pollutants, and the solution from the anodic compartment will be enriched/concentrated in pollutants [ 14 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Electrodialysis has been successfully applied at the laboratory scale and at the industrial level for treated waters and wastewaters containing contaminants and products, such as: heavy metal ions [ 14 , 17 , 18 ], acids [ 19 ], dyes [ 16 , 20 ], and organic matter [ 16 , 19 ]. The wastewaters may come from different industries, such as: chemistry [ 18 , 19 , 20 ], (bio)chemistry [ 21 ], food processing [ 22 ], pharmaceutical [ 18 , 21 ], mining and refining [ 15 , 17 , 22 , 23 ].…”

“…The wastewaters may come from different industries, such as: chemistry [ 18 , 19 , 20 ], (bio)chemistry [ 21 ], food processing [ 22 ], pharmaceutical [ 18 , 21 ], mining and refining [ 15 , 17 , 22 , 23 ]. Electrodialysis was successfully applied for the removal of contaminants from different waters and wastewaters due to their advantages, such as: high separation selectivity and efficiency, does not require specialized equipment, operates without noise, low maintenance, low capital cost, low space and material requirements [ 14 , 17 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”