Sulfonated Pentablock Copolymer Coating of Polypropylene Filters for Dye and Metal Ions Effective Removal by Integrated Adsorption and Filtration Process

Abstract

In this work, we coated polypropylene (PP) fibrous filters with sulfonated pentablock copolymer (s-PBC) layers and tested them for the removal of cationic organic dyes, such as methylene blue (MB), and heavy metal ions (Fe3+ and Co2+) from water by adsorption and filtration experiments. Some of the coated filters were irradiated by UV light before being exposed to contaminated water and then were tested with unirradiated filters in the same adsorption and filtration experiments. Polymer-coated filters showed high efficiency in removing MB from an aqueous solution in both absorption and filtration processes, with 90% and 80% removal, respectively. On the other hand, for heavy metal ions (Fe3+ and Co2+), the coated filters showed a better removal performance in the filtration process than for the adsorption one. In fact, in the adsorption process, controlled interaction times allow the ionic species to interact with the surface of the filters leading to the formation and release of new species in solution. During filtration, the ionic species are easily trapped in the filters, in particular by UV modified filters, and we observed for Fe3+ ions a total removal (>99%) in a single filtration process and for Co2+ ions a larger removal with respect to the untreated filter. The mechanisms involved in the removal of the contaminants processes were investigated by characterizing the filters before and after use by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).

Recent Advances in Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of Innovative Materials in Removal of Water Contaminants

“…In this Special Issue, the effective removal of sulfonated pentablock copolymer coating of polypropylene filters for dye and metal ions by integrated adsorption and filtration process was reported by Filice et al [12]. The polypropylene (PP) fibrous filters, equipped with sulfonated pentablock copolymer (s-PBC) layers, were tested for their capacity to remove cationic organic dyes, such as methylene blue and heavy metal ions (Fe 3+ and Co 2+ ), from water by adsorption and filtration [12]. Polymer-coated filters showed high efficiency in removing methylene blue from an aqueous solution in both the absorption and filtration processes, with 90% and 80% removal rates, respectively [12].…”

“…The polypropylene (PP) fibrous filters, equipped with sulfonated pentablock copolymer (s-PBC) layers, were tested for their capacity to remove cationic organic dyes, such as methylene blue and heavy metal ions (Fe 3+ and Co 2+ ), from water by adsorption and filtration [12]. Polymer-coated filters showed high efficiency in removing methylene blue from an aqueous solution in both the absorption and filtration processes, with 90% and 80% removal rates, respectively [12]. The coated filters showed a better performance removing heavy metal ions (Fe 3+ and Co 2+ ) during filtration than adsorption [12].…”

“…Polymer-coated filters showed high efficiency in removing methylene blue from an aqueous solution in both the absorption and filtration processes, with 90% and 80% removal rates, respectively [12]. The coated filters showed a better performance removing heavy metal ions (Fe 3+ and Co 2+ ) during filtration than adsorption [12]. In the adsorption process, controlled interaction times allow the ionic species to interact with the surface of the filters leading to the formation and release of new species in solution [12].…”

“…The coated filters showed a better performance removing heavy metal ions (Fe 3+ and Co 2+ ) during filtration than adsorption [12]. In the adsorption process, controlled interaction times allow the ionic species to interact with the surface of the filters leading to the formation and release of new species in solution [12]. During filtration, the ionic species are easily trapped in the filters, especially those that are UV-modified.…”

“…During filtration, the ionic species are easily trapped in the filters, especially those that are UV-modified. A total removal (>99%) via a single filtration process was observed for Fe 3+ ions [12]. The filtration processes are faster, and, therefore, the interaction time is not sufficient to release reaction byproducts into the solution; the ionic species are easily trapped in the filters, in particular the filters whose surface was modified by UV treatment [12].…”