title: A biomimetic absorbent for removal of trace level persistent organic pollutants from water.
abstract: A novel biomimetic absorbent containing the lipid triolein was developed for removing persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from water. The structural characteristics of the absorbent were obtained by SEM and a photoluminescence method. Under optimum preparation conditions, triolein was perfectly embedded in the cellulose acetate (CA) spheres, the absorbent was stable and no triolein leaked into the water. Dieldrin, endrin, aldrin and heptachlor epoxide were effectively removed by the CA--triolein absorbent in laboratory batch experiments. This suggests that CA-triolein absorbent may serve as a good absorbent for those selected POPs. Triolein in the absorbent significantly increased the absorption capacity, and lower residual concentrations of POPs were achieved when compared to the use of cellulose acetate absorbent. The absorption rate for lipophilic pollutants was very fast and exhibited some relationship with the octanol--water partition coefficient of the analyte. The absorption mechanism is discussed in detail.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Huijuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiuhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Ruihua
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ru
authors.forename: Zijian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000737:chemistry; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D014304:Triolein / Q000737:chemistry; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014304:Triolein; C005062:acetylcellulose; D002482:Cellulose