article · Scientific Reports
A new polyacrylonitrile polymer composite, incorporating Cu-ZnO/ZrO2, was developed to remove heavy metals (Pb(II), Cd(II)) and pharmaceutical pollutants (sulfamethoxazole, ibuprofen) from water. This material combines photocatalytic degradation and adsorption. Characterisation showed a high specific surface area (156 m²/g) and evenly dispersed nanoparticles. Under visible light, it achieved high photo-oxidation efficiencies for heavy metals (85% for Pb(II), 80% for Cd(II)) and high degradation rates for pharmaceuticals (88% for ibuprofen, 90% for sulfamethoxazole). Adsorption capacities were also significant, following the Langmuir model. The composite retained 85% of its photocatalytic activity after five reuse cycles, demonstrating its efficiency and sustainability.
Pollutants like heavy metals and pharmaceuticals in wastewater pose significant environmental and health risks. This research offers a promising solution by developing an efficient and reusable composite material capable of breaking down and adsorbing these contaminants, contributing to cleaner water resources.
This early-stage research presents a material with potential for advanced wastewater treatment. It could be applied in industrial or municipal water treatment plants to remove heavy metals and pharmaceutical residues. The demonstrated reusability suggests a cost-effective and sustainable solution for managing water pollution.
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A new poly acrylonitrile polymer composite incorporating Cu-ZnO/ZrO2 was created and tested for its capacity to remove heavy metalsPb(II), Cd(II) and pharmaceutical pollutants (sulfamethoxazole and ibuprofen) from water using a combined approach of photocatalytic degradation and adsorption. The composite was fabricated by embedding copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) within a ZnO/ZrO2nanocomposite structure, supported by poly acrylonitrilepolymer. Material characterization was performed using FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, BET, and UV-Vis DRS techniques, showing a notable specific surface area of synthesized composite about 156 m²/g, pore size of 18.4 nm, and evenly dispersed nanoparticles measuring 20 to 30 nm on average. Under visible light exposure, the composite demonstrated photo-oxidation efficiencies of 85% for Pb(II) and 80% for Cd(II) within 120 min, with starting concentrations of 50 mg/L. For pharmaceutical contaminants, degradation rates reached 88% for ibuprofen and 90% for sulfamethoxazole under similar conditions. Adsorption isotherms followed the Langmuir model, with maximum adsorption capacities of 36.0 mg/g for both Pb(II) and Cd(II). Pharmaceutical pollutants showed lower adsorption capacities, with qmax values of 30.0 mg/g for sulfamethoxazole and 28.0 mg/g for ibuprofen. Kinetic studies indicated that the degradation process followed a pseudo-second-order model (R² > 0.98), and the composite retained 85% of its photocatalytic activity after five reuse cycles. These results highlight the prepared compositehas high efficiency and sustainability in eliminating both heavy metals and organic pollutants from aqueous environments.
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DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-95736-x
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