Version 1
: Received: 19 October 2023 / Approved: 19 October 2023 / Online: 23 October 2023 (05:21:08 CEST)
How to cite:
Iqbal, Z.; Ausanio, G.; Parlato, L.; Pepe, G.P.; Ali, S. Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Zerovalent Iron Nanoparticles in Carbon Nanofibers for Wastewater Treatment. Preprints2023, 2023101374. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.1374.v1
Iqbal, Z.; Ausanio, G.; Parlato, L.; Pepe, G.P.; Ali, S. Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Zerovalent Iron Nanoparticles in Carbon Nanofibers for Wastewater Treatment. Preprints 2023, 2023101374. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.1374.v1
Iqbal, Z.; Ausanio, G.; Parlato, L.; Pepe, G.P.; Ali, S. Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Zerovalent Iron Nanoparticles in Carbon Nanofibers for Wastewater Treatment. Preprints2023, 2023101374. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.1374.v1
APA Style
Iqbal, Z., Ausanio, G., Parlato, L., Pepe, G.P., & Ali, S. (2023). Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Zerovalent Iron Nanoparticles in Carbon Nanofibers for Wastewater Treatment. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.1374.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Iqbal, Z., Giovanni Piero Pepe and Shahid Ali. 2023 "Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Zerovalent Iron Nanoparticles in Carbon Nanofibers for Wastewater Treatment" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.1374.v1
Abstract
The presence of heavy metals in industrial effluents has recently become a source of concern for human health and the environment. Efficient removal of metal ions and wastewater treatment is essential for protecting public health and the environment. In this study, we present an eco-friendly, green synthesis of reactive and fully dispersed zerovalent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) in carbon nanofibers via an electrospinning technique. In this novel study, green tea (GT) was used as environmentally friendly, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used for the stabilization and reduction of nZVI, and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was added to provide flexibility and to increase the specific surface area of the nZVI based nanofibers. GT contains polyphenols, which act as reducing agents, converting iron ions into nZVI and the particles can then serve as the building blocks for the carbon nanofibers. TEOS can also contribute to the stability of the nZVI by coating their surfaces with a silica layer. This silica layer helps prevent the oxidation of the nZVI, thereby reducing their catalytic activity. The nZVI-based composite (∼ 400 nm) / carbonized (∼ 200 nm) nanofibrous mats were fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The average size of the nZVI embedded in the composite and carbonized nanofibers can range from 50 nm to 100 nm. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of nZVI-based carbon nanofibers showed that there is no crystallinity and a single-phase cubic structure. Both energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis also confirmed the formation of single-phase nZVI-based composite / carbonized nanofibers. The high intensity of the peaks in the FTIR spectrum indicates the formation of nZVI in the nanofibers structure. The electrospun nZVI-based carbon nanofibers have a higher surface area and better reactivity due to small particle size and large surface area-to-volume ratio. They can provide excellent water stability and dispersibility in water compared to bulk nZVI, which tend to agglomerate and settle quickly. Additionally, nanofiber morphology can enhance the mechanical strength and durability of the composite material. Due to low-cost synthesis and their high efficiency in removing pollutants, these nanofibers could be used as nano-filters for wastewater treatment.
Keywords
green tea extract; composite nanofibers; zerovalent iron nanoparticles; electrospinning technique; water filtration
Subject
Physical Sciences, Condensed Matter Physics
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
