Superhydrophobic particles provide a promising way to tackle water pollutants

Emerging pollutants are compounds such as edema systems, oils, dyes, pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, and other compounds that end in aquatic ecosystems and pose environmental and health risks. These contaminants associated with human activity can be found in wastewater, and removing them represents a scientific, technical and social challenge.

Currently, a study led by the University of Barcelona presents an innovative strategy based on using particles of superhydrophobic nature to decompose contaminants that are difficult to remove from water. From the characterization and process of the Materials Science Research Group (CPCM), the paper by UB researchers Oriol Rius-Ayra and Núria Llorca-Isern has been published in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering.

The results of this study open up new possibilities for the design of new superhydrophobic materials with multifunctional properties to remove sustainable contaminants, a scientific objective, one of the research group’s research lines. Masu.

Clean water and sanitation for all humanity

Ensuring water availability and sustainable management of water resources and sanitation is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations from 2015 to 2030. However, most of the wastewater associated with human activity is still discharged into rivers or oceans without removing pollutants.

This study discusses the multifunctional properties of particles of superhydrophobic properties for removing and decomposition of various contaminants in water. Specifically, superhydrophobicity is a characteristic that is naturally present in some animals and plants, reducing or eliminating surface contact with water molecules.

“The use of superhydrophobic materials is an effective strategy to combat environmental pollution. A few years ago, attempts were made to mimic the superhydrophobic properties present in nature, as was the case with lotus flowers. (Symbolized examples of characteristics).

“Recently, research has progressed in designing new materials with a variety of uses,” said Rius-Ayra, lecturer at the UB’s Department of Materials Science and Physics and Chemistry. “In applications such as self-cleaning of surfaces and removing oils and organic solvents, superhydrophobic materials stand out for their remarkable versatility.”

Superhydrophobic particles with dual function

As part of the study, the team prepared a set of particles with two facets, namely two regions with different chemical composition. These are superhydrophobic Janus-type FENI3/AL2O3 particles named after the Roman god of the same name. A god painted with two faces.

“The fact that particles have two distinct differentiated domains gives them multifunctional properties that can eliminate three different types of contaminants: organic solvents, stable dyes, microplastics.” “These materials There are two different aspects, allowing each to take different actions.

“Specifically, one side has a greater affinity with organic solvents and microplastics. It is functionalized with a compound called lauric acid, so the other side does not contain this compound. But it allows for a fairly stable, fast and effective decomposition of dyes. These two properties allow for the elimination of different types of contaminants.”

To obtain these superhydrophobic materials, first, the alloy is formed in an energy-intensive process, and ultimately obtain chemically active materials that are difficult to obtain under other conditions. The second stage involves functionalizing the surface, conferring new superhydrophobic properties.

“The most complex stage in the processing of these materials is functionalization. This requires chemical reactions on surfaces with micro- and nano-sized dimensions. One methodological challenge is often the fluorinated compounds. “Toxicity, and therefore research should be directed towards the use of more sustainable compounds of more natural origin,” says Llorca-Isern.

“The possibility of combining different chemical compositions into a single material in the future could broaden the application area of ​​these materials with its superhydrophobic properties,” the team concludes.