Grantee Research Project Results
2015 Progress Report: Research and Demonstration of Electrospun Nanofiber Filters: Multifunctional, Chemically Active Filtration Technologies for Small-Scale Water Treatment Systems
EPA Grant Number: R835177Title: Research and Demonstration of Electrospun Nanofiber Filters: Multifunctional, Chemically Active Filtration Technologies for Small-Scale Water Treatment Systems
Investigators: Cwiertny, David M. , Parkin, Gene F , Myung, Nosang V.
Institution: University of Iowa , University of California - Riverside
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: December 1, 2011 through November 30, 2016
Project Period Covered by this Report: December 1, 2014 through November 30,2015
Project Amount: $499,466
RFA: Research and Demonstration of Innovative Drinking Water Treatment Technologies in Small Systems (2011) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Drinking Water , Water
Objective:
This research and demonstration plan aims to fabricate multi-component nanofiber mats via a novel synthesis approach, electrospinning, and optimizing their performance as chemically active filtration technologies for water treatment across a range of scales and chemistries.
Progress Summary:
Many significant research advances were made in Year 4. An optimized formulation for a carbon nanofiber sorbent for organic micropollutants was identified. This material, a composite of carbon nanofibers with embedded carbon nanotubes (CNT-CNF composite) exhibits both strength and high sorption capacity. Thus, cohesive networks of this material could be used in sorption experiments replicating their application in point of use treatment. This includes results related to the ability of the CNT-CNF composite to treat environmentally relevant concentrations of organic micropollutant targets in dynamic flow conditions. We also have identified several methods by which durable, robust and cohesive nanofiber networks of metal (iron) oxides can be fabricated and used in treatment. All prior metal oxides nanofibers fabricated to date have been brittle and prone to fracture with minimal handling. By exploiting polymer-metal oxide composites, we have generated iron oxide sorbents and titanium dioxide photocatalysts as polymer hybrid nanofibers and demonstrated their promise for application in point of use water treatment. The strength of materials generated in Year 4 is allowing us to proceed with the fabrication and scale-up of a multi-layer reactive filtration system, as was originally envisioned in our proposal.
Future Activities:
We have requested a 1-year no-cost extension to continue work on this project. Final efforts in this last year will be focused on the demonstration of multi-layer, and thus multi-functional, filters under conditions simulating their application as reactive filtration devices for point of use (POU) treatment. This will include the fabrication and assembly of layered nanofiber networks (photoactive titanium dioxide followed by iron oxide and carbon sorbents), as well as their demonstration using a range of "real world" aquatic matrices acquired from our project team partners (e.g., cities in Iowa that have offered us access to their source and treated drinking water).
Journal Articles on this Report : 3 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 21 publications | 9 publications in selected types | All 9 journal articles |
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Nalbandian MJ, Zhang M, Sanchez J, Choa Y-H, Cwiertny DM, Myung NV. Synthesis and optimization of BiVO4 and co-catalyzed BiVO4 nanofibers for visible light-activated photocatalytic degradation of aquatic micropollutants. Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical 2015;404-405:18-26. |
R835177 (2015) R835177 (Final) |
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Nalbandian MJ, Greenstein KE, Shuai D, Zhang M, Choa Y-H, Parkin GF, Myung NV, Cwiertny DM. Tailored synthesis of photoactive TiO2 nanofibers and Au/TiO2 nanofiber composites:structure and reactivity optimization for water treatment applications. Environmental Science & Technology 2015;49(3):1654-1663. |
R835177 (2015) R835177 (Final) |
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Nalbandian MJ, Zhang M, Sanchez J, Kim S, Choa Y-H, Nam J, Cwiertny DM, Myung NV. Synthesis and optimization of Fe2O3 nanofibers for chromate adsorption from contaminated water sources. Chemosphere 2016;144:975-981. |
R835177 (2015) R835177 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
Decentralized treatment, point of use treatment, nanotechnology, water reuse, catalysis, water treatment, wastewater treatment, water treatment system, nanofiber filtersRelevant Websites:
David Cwiertny | College of Engineering | The University of Iowa ExitProfessor Nosang V. Myung | Myung Group | University of California, Riverside Exit
Gene F. Parkin | College of Engineering | The University of Iowa Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.