Water pollution due to human activities is an inescapable crisis, especially in developing countries like India, with huge population. 80% of sewage is untreated and flows directly into natural water systems, where millions live along the river shores. Indian cities produce nearly 40,000 million litres of sewage every day, according to a report released by the Centre of Science and Environment in 2013. Non-existent enforcement of environmental laws, rapid urban development & lack of awareness leads to an increase of natural organic matter, arsenic content, pathogenic contaminations, disinfection byproducts (DBPs), pharmaceuticals, etc., in the drinking water supply. Conventional water filtration methods are effective in removing pathogens, but are not effective in removing low molecular weight organic matter (LMWOM), which are well above the limitations set by Central Pollution Control Board.<br/><br/>In order to address the removal of LMWOM, we have synthesized novel nanomaterials, by functionalizing the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). This is performed with a strong base anion exchange polymer, to utilize the large specific surface area of SWCNTs, thereby harnessing the increase in availability of the active ion exchange sites. These resins, functionalized SWCNTs, are thinner & have higher adsorption capacity compared to other current commercialized materials. Aqueous activator regenerated by electron transfer – atom transfer radical polymerization is a sustainable green technique to functionalize SWCNT with poly(vinylbenzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) poly(vbTMAC) & use it as a technology for water purification.<br/><br/>The purification of nanoresin was done using centrifugation in high brine concentration & dialysis for successfully securing functionalized SWCNTs only. The H-NMR characterization of poly(vbTMAC) was performed to check the percent polymerization from monomer. DLS and MALS were used to find the average size of poly(vbTMAC) nanoparticles & predict about its molecular weight. Raman spectra was performed to determine the D:G ratio in comparison to pristine SWCNTs. Scanning electron microscopy was used to check the topography of functionalized SWCNTs compared to that of pristine SWCNTs. The applicability of aqueous nanoresin was demonstrated on DBP surrogate and other compounds using UV-Vis spectroscopy and total organic analysis. Regeneration studies upto 15 cycles have been performed. All data along with analysis will be presented.

Novel nanomaterials for water purification: Synthesis, characterization and application of functionalized SWCNTs

255th National Meeting (2018)

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