Project aims at expanding competences of the postdoctoral researcher in the field of semiconductor nanoparticle synthesis (specifically ZnO tetrapod nanoparticles) and creating a novel functionalized nanofibrous catalyst composite for the effective removal of water pollutants. During the project, composites of zinc oxide tetrapods nanoparticle (ZnO-T) and polymer nanofibre (NF) – will be developed possessing advanced properties for water pollutant decomposition by combining sorption/catalytic performance of ZnO-T and a high surface area of polymer NF for the sorption of pollutant molecules and site availability of ZnO-T. The immobilization of functional nanoparticles in/onto polymer nanofibers is considered as a very interesting opportunity from both scientific and technological perspective, considering enhanced surface-to-volume ratio of such composites, high mechanical resistance, and easy separation from treated water. NF fabrication will be achieved by a electrohydrodynamic polymer processing methods i.e., solution and melt electrospinning. Electrospun ZnO-T-NF composites are expected to feature a greater mechanical robustness over the other manufacture techniques (such as surface deposition) due to fact that ZnO-T will be mixed with polymers before spinning, as well as the ZnO-T particles is highly wearing resistant in comparison of other types of ZnO nanostructures. The efficiency of the ZnO-T-NF composites will be confirmed by actual water pollutants decontamination experiments: in the removal of heavy metals from drinking groundwater by sorption; decontamination of emerging micropollutants in the proposed tertiary wastewater treatment stage by photocatalysis. The experiments of removal of previously mentioned water pollutants is highly valuable and timely because of arising newly observed pollution types and straightened environmental laws. Major impacts of the project to the development of science may be mentioned: developments of ZnO-T immobilization into polymer fibers using previously almost unresearched processes; confirmation of the of ZnO-T-NF composites efficiency for today-topical water pollutants removal; disclosure of the fabrication principles, process parameters, scientific uncertainties, as well as the characterization ZnO-T-NF composites.
Project funding:
Research Council of Lithuania (RCL), Projects of Postdoctoral fellowships funded by the state budget of the Republic of Lithuania
Project results:
The experiments of removal of previously mentioned water pollutants is highly valuable and timely because of arising newly observed pollution types and straightened environmental laws. Major impacts of the project to the development of science may be mentioned: developments of ZnO-T immobilization into polymer fibers using previously almost unresearched processes; confirmation of the of ZnO-T-NF composites efficiency for today-topical water pollutants removal; disclosure of the fabrication principles, process parameters, scientific uncertainties, as well as the characterization ZnO-T-NF composites.
Period of project implementation: 2022-11-03 - 2024-11-02
Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology
