Organometallic Adsorbents Based on Metal-Containing Industrial Waste for the Removal of Inorganic Contaminants from Water

Abstract:

Organometallic adsorbents were synthesized from polyethylene terephthalate and metal-containing industrial waste. Their performance in the removal of arsenic and fluorides in batch systems was evaluated. Synthesized materials were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.

Introduction:

Mixed metal–organic adsorbents were synthesized using metal-containing industrial waste (MCIW), with the aim of using them as metallic nodes in the structure of the synthesized materials. Dye-free polyethylene terephthalate (PET), obtained from post-consumer plastic waste, was employed as the organic ligand precursor. Obtained materials were evaluated as adsorbents of arsenic and fluoride.

Methods:

MCIW and PET were mixed with N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and/or water in stainless steel reactors and subjected to thermal treatment under hydrothermal conditions. Obtained adsorbents were evaluated as adsorbents of arsenic and fluoride under batch conditions at 30 °C. The materials were also characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Results:

Adsorbents synthesized from metallic scrap and DMF exhibited efficient arsenic removal at low concentrations, along with notable fluoride adsorption capacity. XRD analysis revealed significant alterations in the crystalline structure compared to the raw materials, while FTIR revealed the presence of characteristic functional groups associated with organometallic adsorbents.

Conclusions:

A facile and sustainable synthesis route was used to synthesize organometallic adsorbents from industrial residues for the removal of arsenic and fluoride, highlighting their potential application in water purification systems.