Synthesis of Metal-Binding Polymers for Water Purification via RAFT
Abstract
Water, one of the most precious resources on our planet, makes up roughly two thirds of the earth’s surface. Despite the abundance of water, access to clean water has become increasingly difficult. Decades of neglect for the environment have contributed to water pollution. Common pollutants include heavy metals, which are toxic and carcinogenic to humans and to aquatic life. Removal of heavy metal contaminants is a critical part of water purification. While several methods exist, the use of polymers to bind heavy metals offers many advantages over comparable methods, such as improved efficiency and elimination of harmful byproducts. The goal of this project is to synthesize a series of metal chelating polymers to determine which type of polymer results in the most efficient binding to a series of metals. By altering the structure of the polymers and the identity of the chelating group, this research will help elucidate the importance of polymer structure and functionality on metal binding efficiency. The polymers will be synthesized via a “modular” approach, where a single polymer can be functionalized with a variety of metal binding groups, creating a “library” of metal binding polymers for detailed binding studies. Metals of interest include common heavy metal water contaminants, such as Zn, Ni, Pb, V, Cu, Cr, and Cd. While the ability to remove metal ions from solution is the primary goal of the project, evaluating the recovery of the bound metal from the polymers is also of interest.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Patricia Calvo
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-6-2021 12:00 PM
End Date
4-9-2021 12:00 PM
Synthesis of Metal-Binding Polymers for Water Purification via RAFT
Alvin Sherman Library
Water, one of the most precious resources on our planet, makes up roughly two thirds of the earth’s surface. Despite the abundance of water, access to clean water has become increasingly difficult. Decades of neglect for the environment have contributed to water pollution. Common pollutants include heavy metals, which are toxic and carcinogenic to humans and to aquatic life. Removal of heavy metal contaminants is a critical part of water purification. While several methods exist, the use of polymers to bind heavy metals offers many advantages over comparable methods, such as improved efficiency and elimination of harmful byproducts. The goal of this project is to synthesize a series of metal chelating polymers to determine which type of polymer results in the most efficient binding to a series of metals. By altering the structure of the polymers and the identity of the chelating group, this research will help elucidate the importance of polymer structure and functionality on metal binding efficiency. The polymers will be synthesized via a “modular” approach, where a single polymer can be functionalized with a variety of metal binding groups, creating a “library” of metal binding polymers for detailed binding studies. Metals of interest include common heavy metal water contaminants, such as Zn, Ni, Pb, V, Cu, Cr, and Cd. While the ability to remove metal ions from solution is the primary goal of the project, evaluating the recovery of the bound metal from the polymers is also of interest.
