Environmentally friendly porous materials for the recovery and revaluation of metals reclaimed from contaminated water

Abstract

Water is a highly crucial natural resource, and its quality is one of humanity's most significant concerns. The anthropogenic pollution of water resources with metal ions has generated catastrophic effects for humans and the environment, resulting in a continuous search for efficient and sustainable methods of removing these metallic contaminants. This interdisciplinary project involves different knowledge areas and aims to develop porous biodegradable materials based on low cost, environmentally friendly methodologies, analyzed by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and applicable on a large scale. Their adsorption and desorption efficiencies will be studied: the recovery of different metal ions (Cd2+, total chromium - mainly Cr6+, Cu+2, Mn2+, Ni2+, Zn2+). After using and disposing of the material, they can reduce environmental issues related to the metal's contamination. Aerogels, hydrogels, and membranes, prepared from biodegradable and/or renewable raw materials, will be incorporated with nanocellulose and nanoclay with high adsorption to increase their adsorption capacity. Its different properties, performances, biodegradation, and ecotoxicity will be characterized, seeking to investigate its environmental impacts from beginning to end in the production chain. The current materials used in water treatment do not entirely remove metals and are incinerated after their use. Thus, this project aims to develop porous materials with a high capacity to purify wastewater, recover metals from contaminated water, and reuse these post-consumer-developed materials for agriculture application, minimizing severe environmental problems. (AU)