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The energy-free purification of trace thallium(I)-contaminated potable water using a high-selective filter paper with multi-layered Prussian blue decoration

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Abstract

Thallium is a highly toxic metal, and trace amount of thallium(I) (Tl+) in potable water could cause a severe water crisis, which arouses the exploitation of highly-effective technology for purification of Tl+ contaminated water. This report proposes the multi-layered Prussian blue (PB)-decorated composite membranes (PBx@PDA/PEI-FP) based on the aminated filter papers for Tl+ uptake. Extensively characterization by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer-attenuated total reflectance, scanning electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were performed to confirm the in situ growth of cubic PB crystals on filter paper membrane surfaces via the aminated layers, and the successful fabrication of multi-layered PB overcoats via the increasing of aminated layers. The effect of PB layers on Tl+ removal by PBx@PDA/PEI-FP from simulated drinking water was evaluated as well as the influence of different experimental conditions. A trade-off between PB decoration layer number and PB distribution sizes is existed in Tl+ uptake by PBx@PDA/PEI-FP. The double-layered PB2@PDA/PEI-FP membrane showed the maximum sorption capacity, but its Tl+ uptake performance was weakened by the acid, coexisting ions (K+ and Na+) and powerful operation pressure, during filtrating a large volume of low-concentrated Tl+-containing water. However, the negative effect of coexisting ions on the Tl+ uptake could be effectively eliminated in weak alkaline water, and the Tl+ removal was increased up to 100% without any pressure driving for PB2@PDA/PEI-FP membrane. Most importantly, PB2@PDA/PEI-FP displayed the high-efficiency and high-selectivity in purifying the Tl+-spiked Pearl River water, in which the residual Tl+ in filtrate was less than 2 µg·L−1 to meet the drinking water standard of United States Environmental Protection Agency. This work provides a feasible avenue to safeguard the drinking water in remote and underdeveloped area via the energy-free operation.

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Acknowledgements

The current study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 22006026, 52270001), Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Grant Nos. 2023A1515012506, 2019A1515110546), Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (Grant No. 202102080160), Project of Young Innovative Talents in Colleges and Universities of Guangdong Province (Grant No. 2019KQNCX111), Outstanding Youth Project of Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 2022B1515020030), Guangzhou Science and Technology Project (Grant Nos. 202201020530, 202201020200), Research Project of Guangzhou University (Grant No. YJ2023026).

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  1. These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China

    Jiangyan Lu, Zhu Xiong, Yuhang Cheng, Kaige Dong, Hongguo Zhang, Dinggui Luo, Li Yu, Wei Zhang & Gaosheng Zhang

  2. College of Light Chemical Industry and Materials Engineering, Shunde Polytechnic, Foshan, 528333, China

    Qingwu Long

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  1. Jiangyan Lu
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  2. Zhu Xiong
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  3. Yuhang Cheng
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  4. Qingwu Long
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  5. Kaige Dong
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  6. Hongguo Zhang
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  7. Dinggui Luo
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  8. Li Yu
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  9. Wei Zhang
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Correspondence to Zhu Xiong, Wei Zhang or Gaosheng Zhang.

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The energy-free purification of trace thallium(I)-contaminated potable water using a high-selective filter paper with multi-layered Prussian blue decoration

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Lu, J., Xiong, Z., Cheng, Y. et al. The energy-free purification of trace thallium(I)-contaminated potable water using a high-selective filter paper with multi-layered Prussian blue decoration. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng. 18, 13 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-023-2379-8

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