Opcije pristupačnosti Pristupačnost
Project Overview

Summary

Environmental problems associated with water pollution are an important issue correlated negatively with the health and ecosystem. The main goal of this proposal is to develop novel polymer nanocomposites of extending photoactivity toward visible region under UV/VIS light irradiation and to introduce an innovative technology for water purification. The conducting polymers (CPs) are known as good hole conducting materials and are combined with semiconductor nanoparticles to produce a synergistic effect and complementary properties. Due to that Polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) conducting polymers will be studied with metal oxides (TiO2, ZnO) nanoparticles to develop polymer nanocomposite photocatalysts (CPNPs) with enhanced photocatalytic properties. The optimal structure-properties relationships are crucial for efficient degradation of organic contaminants in water to convert them into harmless chemicals. Novel CPNPs will be applied in photocatalytic degradation of organic azo dyes (reactive red 45 and methyl orange) chosen as targeted wastewater pollutants. The utilization of waste material, fly ash, as a catalyst support will be explored to provide the additional environmental benefit. The proposed integral approach that will be used in the evaluation of the process efficiency will scrutinize any negative implications of CPNPs application. The project will contribute to the development and modernization of science and technology in Croatia, advancing toward the knowledge-based society within the European research area.

Project includes a multidisciplinary effort, ranging from polymer science and technology, chemistry and environmental chemistry to electrochemical engineering, in order to meet challenging project tasks and propose an efficient photocatalytic polymer nanocomposite for sustainable water treatment technology.

 

Objectives

The main goal of this proposal is to develop a novel UV/Visible light-responsive photocatalysts and introduce an innovative technology for wastewater treatment processes by advancing the current state-of-the-art knowledge. CPs are known as good hole conducting materials but they also act as a stabilizer or surface capping agents because during in situ chemical polymerization nanoparticles are successfully coated.

To achieve specified goal the following Project objectives are set:

Objective 1: The objective is to synthesize conducting polymers (CPs) in the presence of metal oxide (MOs) nanoparticles by insitu chemical polymerization to obtain conducting polymers nanocomposite photocatalysts (CPNPs). The research will be carried out by synthesis of CPs using MOs supported on fly ash (CPNP-FA). For that purpose, TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticeles with three types of CPs will be studied; polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) by insitu chemical oxidative or emulsion polymerization. Different CP synthesis routes and the composition variation of metal oxides and CPs in the nanocomposite will provide us to study a relation between the structural and electrochemical properties to determine an optimum for specific application in wastewater treatment.

Objective 2: The objective is to analyze and characterize newly synthesized nanocomposites: PPy/NP, PANI/NP, and PEDOT/NP photocatalysts, TiO2-based (CPNP-T) and ZnO-based (CPNP-Z) using standard equipment to establish structure-properties relationships by determination of structure, morphology, surface and electrochemical properties.

Special interest will be dedicated to the mechanical and chemical stability by characterization of CPNPs upon the treatment, which is crucial for the overall effectiveness of the water treatment process and the potential usage in larger scale. 

Objective 3: The objective is to investigate photocatalytic activities of newly synthesized CPNP nanocomposites under UV/ Visible light irradiation using simulated wastewater containing organic azo dyes; C.I. reactive red 45 (RR45) and methyl orange (MOr) as water pollutants to determine the rate and degradation efficiency. The chosen dyes are selected because several studies using classic advanced oxidation processes were already performed and published. Hence, the comparison between classic AOPs and newly made photo catalyst can be very useful for specific conclusions about the total efficiency in wastewater treatment.

 

The significance of the proposed research will lead to improved oxidation power of photocatalytic process due to an increased activity under UV/Visible light, enabled by combining MO nanoparticles with conducting polymers. Different approaches will be used to prepare nanocomposites of polymer-metal particles to create the optimal structure – properties relationships that will extend the photoactivity of CPNPs toward visible region. Conducting polymers (CPs) in combination with metal oxide nanoparticles have recently emerged as an attractive alternative to conventional and widely used photocatalysts. The application of new CPNPs-FA will overcome the agglomeration issue and thus contribute to a more efficient activity of catalyst because the main advantages of nanoscale materials include high surface-to-volume ratio.