The current increase in the number of sources that release effluents into water bodies has led to the presence of pharmaceutical compounds in these environments, which during the last few decades, have been known as Emerging Organic Contaminants (EOCs). In this study, the use of a novel method for the selective adsorption of EOCs in water is proposed based on the integration of the diblock copolymer polyethylene oxide-b-4 vinyl pyridine (P4VP-PEO). This polymer is a self-assembling compound that offers control over the average retention of the tested antibiotic: sulfamethoxazole (SMX). Biodegradable highly porous fibers of cellulose acetate (CA) were fabricated via electrospinning to generate high surface area membranes. Later, alkoxysilane trimethoxy(2-phenylethyl)silane (TMPES) was incorporated onto the films to provide the necessary stability that would allow the membranes to remain physically intact when in contact with water. These membranes were successfully used as support for the block copolymer. EDS and FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of P4VP-PEO and TMPES onto the support membranes. Adsorption batch isotherms experiments showed a maximum adsorption of 15 mg of SMX per gram of membrane after 4 hours at neutral pH. Reusability tests revealed that exposing the membranes to pH 3 allows the release of the adsorbed species without affecting the membranes’ integrity. The results in this work confirm the potential of using diblock copolymers and eco-friendly support membranes for the selective adsorption of pharmaceuticals in water.<br/>

Development of pH responsive cellulose nanofibers for the selective adsorption of emerging organic contaminants in water

2019 Spring National Meeting

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