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New Polymeric Materials for Water Purification

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Prof. Dr. Nuria Vela de Oro

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Guest Editor

Applied Technology to Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Science, Catholic University of Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain
Interests: wastewater treatment; polymers; nanomaterials; catalysts; decontamination; emerging pollutants; monitoring; sensorisation

Prof. Dr. María Isabel Fortea Gorbe

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Guest Editor

Molecular Recognition and Encapsulation. Faculty of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Murcia, Spain
Interests: cyclodextrins; nanomaterials; polymers; drug delivery; food; health; environment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

One of the most serious environmental problems we face today is the pollution of natural aquatic ecosystems. Considering that the main source of contamination is inadequately treated wastewater, it is necessary to apply treatment techniques that minimise the pollutant load as much as possible. These strategies were agreed upon in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically under Section 6 "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all". In this sense, it is crucial to establish preventive mechanisms that minimise the presence of pollutants in the environment, including, of course, aquatic systems, with a special emphasis on water for human consumption. Water management is, consequently, a transcendental challenge for researchers working on water decontamination and purification. In this sense, the use of natural or synthesised polymeric materials to achieve a higher level of quality of treated water is currently gaining special relevance due to their high versatility, moderate cost, and possibility of reuse. This Special Issue on "New Polymeric Materials for Water Purification" seeks high quality papers focused on (but not limited to) the latest technical advances in adsorption, flocculation, oxidation, filtration, and other physical, chemical, and/or biological processes or their combinations that are developed with polymeric materials in order to improve the quality of purified water.

Prof. Dr. Nuria Vela de Oro
Prof. Dr. María Isabel Fortea Gorbe
Guest Editors

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15 pages, 31730 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization Conditions to Obtain Cationic Polyacrylamide Emulsion Copolymers with Desired Cationic Degree for Different Wastewater Treatments

by Tung Huy Nguyen, Linh Pham Duy Nguyen, Thao Thi Phuong Nguyen, Minh Xuan Anh Le, Linh Thi Thuy Kieu, Huong Thi To and Thanh Tien Bui

Polymers 2023, 15(12), 2693; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15122693 - 15 Jun 2023

Viewed by 2905

Abstract

The synthesis of cationic polyacrylamides (CPAMs) with the desired cationic degree and molecular weight is essential for various industries, including wastewater treatment, mining, paper, cosmetic chemistry, and others. Previous studies have already demonstrated methods to optimize synthesis conditions to obtain high-molecular-weight CPAM emulsions and the effects of cationic degrees on flocculation processes. However, the optimization of input parameters to obtain CPAMs with the desired cationic degrees has not been discussed. Traditional optimization methods are time-consuming and costly when it comes to on-site CPAM production because the input parameters of CPAM synthesis are optimized using single-factor experiments. In this study, we utilized the response surface methodology to optimize the synthesis conditions, specifically the monomer concentration, the content of the cationic monomer, and the content of the initiator, to obtain CPAMs with the desired cationic degrees. This approach overcomes the drawbacks of traditional optimization methods. We successfully synthesized three CPAM emulsions with a wide range of cationic degrees: low (21.85%), medium (40.25%), and high (71.17%) levels of cationic degree. The optimized conditions for these CPAMs were as follows: monomer concentration of 25%, content of monomer cation of 22.5%, 44.41%, and 77.61%, respectively, and initiator content of 0.475%, 0.48%, and 0.59%, respectively. The developed models can be utilized to quickly optimize conditions for synthesizing CPAM emulsions with different cationic degrees to meet the demands of wastewater treatment applications. The synthesized CPAM products performed effectively in wastewater treatment, with the treated wastewater meeting the technical regulation parameters. ¹H-NMR, FTIR, SEM, BET, dynamic light scattering, and gel permeation chromatography were employed to confirm the structure and surface of the polymers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Polymeric Materials for Water Purification)

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25 pages, 4809 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Triazine-Based Porous Organic Polymers: Synthesis and Application in Dye Adsorption and Catalysis

by Pedro M. C. Matias, Dina Murtinho and Artur J. M. Valente

Polymers 2023, 15(8), 1815; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15081815 - 7 Apr 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3259

Abstract

The scientific community has been developing promising materials to increase the sustainability and efficiency of production processes and pollutant environmental remediation strategies. Porous organic polymers (POPs) are of special interest, as they are insoluble custom-built materials at the molecular level, endowed with low densities and high stability, surface areas, and porosity. This paper describes the synthesis, characterization, and performance of three triazine-based POPs (T-POPs) in dye adsorption and Henry reaction catalysis. T-POPs were prepared by a polycondensation reaction between melamine and a dialdehyde (terephthalaldehyde (T-POP1) or isophthalaldehyde derivatives with a hydroxyl group (T-POP2) or both a hydroxyl and a carboxyl group (T-POP3)). The crosslinked and mesoporous polyaminal structures, with surface areas between 139.2 and 287.4 m² g⁻¹, positive charge, and high thermal stability, proved to be excellent methyl orange adsorbents, removing the anionic dye with an efficiency >99% in just 15–20 min. The POPs were also effective for methylene blue cationic dye removal from water, reaching efficiencies up to ca. 99.4%, possibly due to favorable interactions via deprotonation of T-POP3 carboxyl groups. The modification of the most basic polymers, T-POP1 and T-POP2, with copper(II) allowed the best efficiencies in Henry reactions catalysis, leading to excellent conversions (97%) and selectivities (99.9%). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Polymeric Materials for Water Purification)

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