Carbon nanotubes have the function of cleaning sewage

A new study published recently by the University of Vienna scientists in the journal Environmental Science and Technology shows that carbon nanotubes have unique electronic, mechanical, and chemical properties that can be used to clean sewage.

Carbon nanotubes consist of cylindrical carbon molecules several nanometers in diameter and are good candidates for cleaning contaminated water. It has two major advantages: First, some water pollutants have a high affinity for it (absorption and adsorption), which helps to remove pollutants from contaminated water; second, it has a relatively large surface area (per gram of carbon Nanotubes have 500 square meters) and can hold pollutants with enough capacity to solve the problem of filter saturation. At the same time, it can reduce the maintenance and waste caused by water pollution.

Melanie Ka, who is in charge of the study, stated: “Technological innovation is always linked to the advantages and disadvantages of human and environmental quality. Before carbon nanotubes are used as filters, understand the interaction between pollutants and carbon nanotubes. And how carbon nanotubes operate in the environment is necessary.” Accordingly, researchers have studied the environmental sustainability and cleaning ability of carbon nanotubes.

Using a series of tests using analytical chemistry and electron microscopy, the researchers found a suitable, reliable, and effective method for studying carbon nanotubes, namely passive sampling methods, to evaluate the environmental sustainability of carbon nanotube applications. Sex. Passive sampling methods have led to the development of studies on the affinity of a carcinogenic contaminant such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on carbon nanotubes. Once validated, passive sampling methods are used to measure the affinity of several contaminants (PAHs) to carbon nanotubes in a wide range of concentrators.

At the same time, the researchers assessed the ability of carbon nanotube cleaning. They obtained more information about the adsorption mechanism by analyzing the competition between pollutants. Many chemicals often co-exist in contaminated water bodies. When competition occurs, some of the pollutants may not be adsorbed on the carbon nanotubes, which is unfavorable to the actual performance of the filter. Although research on this competitive behavior is facing certain difficulties, Tillo Huffman said that the latest experimental results will soon come out.