Hg2+ is one of the most important toxic metal ions, because of its wide use in electrical equipment, catalysts, and paints, after which it is released into the environment. Mercury can cause serious health problems because it easily passes through the skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal tissues into the human body, where it will damage the central nervous and endocrine systems. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has sets the maximum allowable level of Hg2+ as 2 ppb in drinking water. To remove the Hg2+, different kinds of materials functionalized with sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon have been developed. In this work, we have synthesized the Cu/Cu2O hollowspheres via self-assembling of small Cu/Cu2O nanoparticles and characterized the removal properties of Hg2+ from aqueous solution. The concentration of Hg2+ was analyzed by the mercury analyzer using EPA 1631 method and removal efficiency was determined to be more than 99%. We also characterized the nanotoxicity of synthesized Cu/Cu2O hollowspheres. Because of its high efficiency in removing Hg2+ from aqueous solution and low toxicity, we can apply the Cu/Cu2O hollowsphere for the removal of mercury from contaminated water.

Synthesis of Cu/ Cu<sub>2</sub>O hollowspheres and its application in remediation of Hg<sup>2+</sup>

248th National Meeting (2014)

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Synthesis of Cu/ Cu2O hollowspheres and its application in remediation of Hg2+

Synthesis of Cu/ Cu₂O hollowspheres and its application in remediation of Hg²⁺