Mechanisms of mercury removal from water with highly efficient MXene and silver-modified polyethyleneimine cryogel composite filters
Daulbayev C. Nursharip A. Tauanov Z. Busquets R. Baimenov A.
October 2024Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials
2024#7Issue 5
Safeguarding aquatic ecosystems and human health requires effective methods for removing pollutants. Mercury (Hg) is a very toxic pollutant with a global presence and is highly mobile and persistent. Here, innovative materials were prepared for separating Hg(II) from water, and the mechanisms underlying the efficient uptake of Hg species have been investigated. The sorbents include silver (Ag) nanoparticles and multilayered Ti3C2Tx MXene, both incorporated into the structure of a three-dimensional polyethyleneimine porous cryogel (PEI) that acts as a scaffold holding and exposing nano active sites involved in the removal of Hg. Specifically, Ag particles were deposited onto MXene phases, and the resulting composite was embedded in the macroporous PEI polymer (PEI/MXene@Ag cryogel). The composite has beneficial properties regarding Hg removal: 99% of Hg was separated from waste within 24 h in batch studies. The maximum removal capacity of Hg reached 875 mg/g from HgCl2, and 761 mg/g and 1280 mg/g from Hg(OAc)2 and Hg(NO3)2 salts by PEI/MXene@Ag. The Hg uptake stems from the composite’s relatively large specific surface area, layered porous channels, and highly dispersed Ag nanoparticles in the multilayered Ti3C2Tx MXene. The matrix in the water samples that were treated with the composite did not hinder the uptake of Hg by PEI/MXene@Ag. The high effectiveness achieved for the removal of Hg, combined with rapid adsorption kinetics, high efficiency, and selectivity, positions it as an efficient solution. Future work should address upscaling its preparation for increasing readiness towards mitigating Hg in surface water.
Ag , Hg , Nano , Polyethyleneimine , Water treatment
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Laboratory of Engineering Profile, Satbayev University, Satbayev St, Almaty, 050000, Kazakhstan
Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1 Ibragimov St, Almaty, 050032, Kazakhstan
National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Ave, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Al Farabi Kazakh National University, 71 Al-Farabi Ave, Almaty, 050000, Kazakhstan
School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Greater London, KT1 2EE, United Kingdom
Laboratory of Engineering Profile
Institute of Nuclear Physics
National Laboratory Astana
Al Farabi Kazakh National University
School of Life Sciences
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