title: High efficiency removal of dissolved As(III) using iron nanoparticle-embedded macroporous polymer composites.
abstract: Novel nanocomposite materials where iron nanoparticles are embedded into the walls of a macroporous polymer were produced and their efficiency for the removal of As(III) from aqueous media was studied. Nanocomposite gels containing α-Fe(2)O(3) and Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles were prepared by cryopolymerisation resulting in a monolithic structure with large interconnected pores up to 100 μm in diameter and possessing a high permeability (ca. 3 × 10(-3) ms(-1)). The nanocomposite devices showed excellent capability for the removal of trace concentrations of As(III) from solution, with a total capacity of up to 3mg As/g of nanoparticles. The leaching of iron was minimal and the device could operate in a pH range 3-9 without diminishing removal efficiency. The effect of competing ions such as SO(4)(2-) and PO(4)(3-) was negligible. The macroporous composites can be easily configured into a variety of shapes and structures and the polymer matrix can be selected from a variety of monomers, offering high potential as flexible metal cation remediation devices.
authors.affiliation: Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Group, Faculty of Science & Engineering, University of Brighton, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK.i.n.savina@brighton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Irina N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Savina
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: English
authors.forename: Raymond L D
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Whitby
authors.forename: Yishan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leistner
authors.forename: Sergey V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Mikhalovsky
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Cundy
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D005615:Freezing; D005782:Gels; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D010539:Permeability; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005782:Gels; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D011108:Polymers; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C000499:ferric oxide; D007501:Iron; C030242:phosphoric acid; D001151:Arsenic