Silver nanoparticles embedded polymer sorbent for preconcentration of uranium from bio-aggressive aqueous media.
Adsorptive sorbent for bio-aggressive natural aqueous media like seawater was developed by one pot simultaneous synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag nps) and poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate phosphate) (PEGMP) by UV-initiator induced photo-polymerization. The photo-polymerization was carried out by irradiating N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution containing appropriate amounts of the functional monomer (ethylene glycol methacrylate phosphate), UV initiator (α,α'-dimethoxy-α-phenyl acetophenone), and Ag(+) ions with 365 nm UV light in a multilamps photoreactor. To increase mechanical strength, nano-composite sorbent (Ag@PEGMP) was also reinforced with thermally bonded non-woven poly(propylene) fibrous sheet. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the nano-composite sorbent showed uniform distribution of spherical Ag nanoparticles with particles size ranging from 3 to 6 nm. The maximum amount of Ag(0) that could be anchored in the form of nanoparticles were 5±1 and 10±1 wt.% in self-supported PEGMP and poly(propylene) reinforced PEGMP matrices, respectively. Ag@PEGMP sorbent was found to be stable under ambient conditions for a period of six months. Ag@PEGMP composite sorbent did not exhibit growth at all after incubation with pre-grown Escherichia coli cells, and showed non-adherence of this bacteria to the composite. This indicated that composite sorbent has the bio-resistivity due to bacterial repulsion and bactericidal properties of Ag nanoparticles embedded in the PEGMP. Sorption of U(VI) in PEGMP and Ag@PEGMP nano-composite sorbents from well-stirred seawater was studied to explore the possibility of using it for uranium preconcentration from bio-aggressive aqueous streams. The nano-composite sorbent was used to preconcentrate U(VI) from a process aqueous waste stream.
Department of Chemistry, University of Pune, Pune 411 007, India.
Sadananda
S
Das
Ashok K
AK
Pandey
Anjali A
AA
Athawale
M
M
Subramanian
T K
TK
Seshagiri
Pawan K
PK
Khanna
Vijay K
VK
Manchanda
D000327:Adsorption; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003188:Composite Resins; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008970:Molecular Weight; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers; D012623:Seawater; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014501:Uranium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014867:Water
D003188:Composite Resins; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011108:Polymers; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D012834:Silver; D014501:Uranium