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. 2021 Jun 4;13(11):1875.
doi: 10.3390/polym13111875.

Study of Polyvinyl Alcohol-SiO2 Nanoparticles Polymeric Membrane in Wastewater Treatment Containing Zinc Ions

Simona Căprărescu  1 , Cristina Modrogan  2 , Violeta Purcar  3 , Annette Madelene Dăncilă  2 , Oanamari Daniela Orbuleț  2
Affiliations

Study of Polyvinyl Alcohol-SiO2 Nanoparticles Polymeric Membrane in Wastewater Treatment Containing Zinc Ions

Simona Căprărescu et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

The main goal of the present paper was to synthesize the polyvinyl alcohol-SiO2 nanoparticles polymeric membrane by wet-phase inversion method. The efficiency of prepared membranes (without and with SiO2) was investigated using a versatile laboratory electrodialysis system filled with simulated wastewaters that contain zinc ions. All experiments were performed at following conditions: the applied voltage at electrodes of 5, 10 and 15 V, a concentration of zinc ions solution of 2 g L-1, time for each test of 1 h and at room temperature. The demineralization rate, extraction percentage of zinc ions, current efficiency and energy consumption were determined. The polymeric membranes were characterized by Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy-Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The higher value of percentage removal of zinc ions (over 65%) was obtained for the polymeric membrane with SiO2 nanoparticles, at 15 V. The FTIR-ATR spectra show a characteristic peak located at ~1078 cm-1 assigned to the Si-O-Si asymmetrical stretching. SEM images of the polymeric membrane with SiO2 nanoparticles show that the nanoparticles and polymer matrix were well compatible. The impedance results indicated that the SiO2 nanoparticles induced the higher proton conductivity. The final polymeric membranes can be used for the removal of various metallic ions, dyes, organic or inorganic colloids, bacteria or other microorganisms from different natural waters and wastewaters.

Keywords: electrodialysis; ionic conductivity; silica nanoparticles; wastewater; zinc ions.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of the preparation polymeric membrane with SiO2 nanoparticles.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Laboratory electrodialysis system with polymeric membranes.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Electrochemical cell for EIS measurements: (a) two symmetrical platinum electrodes and (b) small sample of wet prepared polymeric membrane placed between platinum electrodes.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Image of cathode electrode surface before (a) and after (b) metallic zinc layer deposited.
Figure 5
Figure 5
FTIR-ATR spectra for polymeric membranes without (a) and with (b) SiO2 nanoparticles, before (F0 and C0) and after (F1–F3 and C1–C3) 1 h of treatment.
Figure 6
Figure 6
SEM images of polymeric membranes (without and with SiO2 nanoparticles): F0, top-surface (a) and cross-section (b); C0, top-surface (c) and cross-section (d).
Figure 6
Figure 6
SEM images of polymeric membranes (without and with SiO2 nanoparticles): F0, top-surface (a) and cross-section (b); C0, top-surface (c) and cross-section (d).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Bode diagrams for polymeric membranes without SiO2 nanoparticles, before (F0) and after (F1–F3) 1 h of treatment.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Bode diagrams for polymeric membranes with SiO2 nanoparticles, before (C0) and after (C1–C3) 1 h of treatment.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Proton conductivity values of polymeric membranes without and with SiO2 nanoparticles, before and after used in the electrodialysis system.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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