SELECTIVE DECONTAMINATION OF COLORED WASTEWATERS BY MAGNETIC NANOCOMPOSITES

Acronim: SeWatMaGNano
PNII-RU-TE-2014-4-1319, Contract no. 55/01.10.2015

Program PN II: Human Resources
Project type: Research projects for the stimulation of young independent research teams forming - TE
Contracting Unit: Executive Unity for Financing the Superior Education, Research, Development and Innovation (UEFISCDI)
Contracted Unit: Institute of Chemistry Timișoara of Romanian Academy
Period: 24 months (October 2015-September 2017)

Total Value: 550.000 Lei
Amount in 2015: 90.000 Lei
Amount in 2016: 339.615 Lei
Amount in 2017: 120.385 Lei

Project leader: Dr. ing. Simona Gabriela MUNTEAN (2015-2017)
Project members:
Dr. Robert IANOŞ (2015 - 2017)
Dr. Maria Elena RĂDULESCU-GRAD (2015 - 2017)
Dr. Anamaria TODEA (2015 - 2017)
Drd. Natalia-Claudia BUZATU (2015 - mart. 2016)
Drd. Cornelia-Eliza MUNTEAN (2015 - 2017)
Drd. Adelina Antonia ANDELESCU (mai. 2016 - 2017)
Drd. Maria Andreea NISTOR (2017)

Abstract:
The project approaches the problem of wastewater treatment aimed mainly to develop a high performance wastewater treatment system based on magnetite/carbon nanocomposites (NMC) as adsorbents. In this sense, the project aims synthesis and detailed characterization of new type of tailored-made magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with various groups such as: amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl, by means of combustion. The performance of magnetic composites will be tested for selective adsorption of dyes and metal ions from model and industrial wastewaters. The optimization of adsorption processes will be performed by taking into account variables such as pH, temperature, and contact time. The adsorption studies will be performing for removal of dyes and metal ions in batch and continuous system, for mono- and multi-component solutions. The elucidation of adsorption mechanism will be performed. The reusability of NMC will be investigated in the repeated adsorption–desorption cycle.
The project purpose: To develop a high performance wastewater treatment system based on magnetite/carbon nanocomposites (NMC) as adsorbents.

Project objectives:
O1. Synthesis and characterization of new NMC, custom wastewater treatment
O2. Decontamination model wastewater using NMC in batch
O3. Targeted enforcement of NMC in colored industrial wastewater decontamination
O4. Determining of NMC efficiency as adsorbents after multiple uses in adsorption/ desorption cycles

Current state of research:
Scientific report of research activity for October-December 2015: The objectives set for this stage were fulfilled and fully correspond with the objectives envisaged in Appendix IV of the contract no. 55/01.10.2015. The detailed description of the effectuated activities is presented in the final report for 2015 report for 2015 (pdf)
Scientific report of research activity for January-December 2016: The objectives set for this stage were fulfilled and fully correspond with the objectives envisaged in Appendix IV of the contract no. 55/01.10.2015. The detailed description of the effectuated activities is presented in the final report for 2016 (pdf)
Scientific report of research activity for January-November 2017: The results obtained in this period are in agreement with the anticipated results from Appendix IV of the contract no. 55/01.10.2015. The detailed description of the effectuated activities is presented in the final report for 2017 (pdf)
Conferences:

  1. Eliza Cornelia Muntean, Robert Ianoş, Cornelia Păcurariu, Simona Gabriela Muntean, Daniel Nižňanský, Combustion synthesis and characterization of some FeXOY/C nanocomposites, The XVIIth Symposium „Young People and Multidisciplinary Research“ România-Serbia-Ungaria, November 12-13, 2015, Timişoara, p. 15-16, Section B – Ecology; Chemistry, B7, oral presentation.
  2. Eliza-Cornelia Muntean, Robert Ianoş, Cornelia Păcurariu, Simona Gabriela Muntean, Daniel Nižňanský, Influence of reaction conditions on the synthesis of iron oxide/carbon nanocomposites, Young Researchers’ International Conference on Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (YRICCCE I), Cluj-Napoca, May 12-14, 2016, p. 40, poster.
  3. Simona Gabriela Muntean, Anamaria Todea, Claudia Buzatu, Eliza Cornelia Muntean, Robert Ianoş, Cornelia Păcurariu, Colored wastewaters treatment based on magnetite/carbon nanocomposites as adsorbents, New trends and strategies in the chemistry of advanced materials with relevance in biological systems, technique and environmental protection, 9th Edition, Timisoara, June 09-10, 2016, p. 27, ISSN: 2065-0760, lecture.
  4. Eliza Muntean, Simona Gabriela Muntean, Anamaria Todea, Adelina Andelescu, Robert Ianoș, Cornelia Păcurariu, Maria Elena Rădulescu-Grad, Combustion synthesis and characterization of Fe3O4/Ag/C nanocomposites, 6th International IUPAC Conference on Green Chemistry, Venetia, Italia, September 4-8, 2016, M137, p. 203, poster.
  5. Eliza Muntean, Robert Ianoș, Simona Gabriela Muntean, Cornelia Păcurariu, Daniel Nižňanský, Magnetite/carbon nanocomposites, application to decontamination of wastewaters, 6th International IUPAC Conference on Green Chemistry, Venetia, Italia, September 4-8, 2016, IP 429, p. 291, poster.
  6. Simona Gabriela Muntean, Anamaria Todea, Robert Ianoş, Cornelia Păcurariu, Eliza Cornelia Muntean, Removal of organic pollutants from wastewaters by magnetite/carbon nanocomposites, The 9th International Conference on Interfaces against Pollution. Environmental Challenges & Opportunities, Lleida, Spain, September 4-7, 2016, OM 29, p. 48, oral presentation.
  7. Anamaria Todea, Claudia Buzatu, Simona Gabriela Muntean, Francisc Peter, Azo-dyes degradation by covalently immobilized peroxidase onto epoxy-activated supports, The 9th International Conference on Interfaces against Pollution. Environmental Challenges & Opportunities, Lleida, Spain, September 4-7, 2016, P108, p. 219, poster.
  8. Anamaria Todea, Natalia Claudia Buzatu, Maria Elena Rădulescu-Grad, Robert Ianos, Simona Gabriela Muntean, The removal of anionic and cationic dyes by adsorption onto magnetic nanoparticles, 6th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress, Seville, Spania, September 11-15, 2016, No. 815, oral presentation.
  9. Simona Gabriela Muntean, Anamaria Todea, Eliza Cornelia Muntean, Robert Ianos, Cornelia Păcurariu, Magnetite/carbon nanocomposites: combustion synthesis, characterization and application as adsorbent material, 6th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress, Seville, Spania, September 11-15, 2016, NO. 811, poster.
  10. Simona Gabriela Muntean, Anamaria Todea, Adelina Andelescu, Maria Elena Rădulescu-Grad, Robert Ianoș, Decontamination of colored wastewaters using magnetite/carbon nanocomposites, The XXXIVth Romanian Chemistry Conference, Căciulata, Vâlcea County, Romania, October 4-7, 2016, p.18, poster.
  11. Simona Gabriela Muntean, Maria Andreea Nistor, Anamaria Todea, Maria Elena Rădulescu-Grad, Robert Ianoș, Magnetic nanoparticles as specific sorbents for the removal of dyes from aqueous solutions, The 6th International Conference Ecological & Environmental Chemistry - 2017 (EEC-2017), Chişinău, Republica Moldova, 2-3 Martie, 2017, p. 126, ISSN: 978-9975-51-810-9, prezentare orală.
  12. Maria Andreea Nistor, Adelina Andelescu, Simona Gabriela Muntean, Maria Elena Rădulescu-Grad, Magnetite/carbon nanocomposites as specific sorbent for wastewaters treatment, The 6th International Conference Ecological & Environmental Chemistry - 2017 (EEC-2017), Chişinău, Republica Moldova, 2-3 Martie, 2017, p. 142, ISSN: 978-9975-51-810-9, poster.
  13. Simona Gabriela Muntean, Robert Ianoș, Eliza Cornelia Muntean, Maria Andreea Nistor, Cornelia Păcurariu, Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of adsorption capacity of new magnetic nanocomposites, New trends and strategies in the chemistry of advanced materials with relevance in biological systems, technique and environmental protection, 10th Edition, 08-09 June, Timişoara, Romania, 2017, p. 77, ISSN 2065-0760, poster.
  14. Simona Gabriela Muntean, Adelina Andelescu, Maria Andreea Nistor, Maria Elena Rădulescu-Grad, Investigation of magnetite/carbon nanocomposites as sorbents for removal of metals ions from aqueous solutions, New trends and strategies in the chemistry of advanced materials with relevance in biological systems, technique and environmental protection, 10th Edition, 08-09 June, Timişoara, Romania, 2017, p. 83, ISSN 2065-0760, poster.
  15. Adelina Andelescu, Maria Andreea Nistor, Simona Gabriela Muntean, Raisa Nastas, Larisa Postolachi, Removal of metal ions from aqueous solutions using various types of adsorbents, New trends and strategies in the chemistry of advanced materials with relevance in biological systems, technique and environmental protection, 10th Edition, 08-09 June, Timişoara, Romania, 2017, p. 100, ISSN 2065-0760, poster.
  16. Robert Ianoș, Cornelia Păcurariu, Simona Gabriela Muntean, Eliza Cornelia Muntean, Daniel Nižňanský, Fe3O4/Ag/C nanocomposites: synthesis, characterization and evaluation of adsorption capacity, International Conference Advanced Nano Materials (ANM2017), 19-21 Iulie, 2017, Aveiro, Portugalia, p. 311, AMM-09, poster.
  17. Adelina Andelescu, Maria Andreea Nistor, Simona Gabriela Muntean, Robert Ianos, Cornelia Păcurariu, Iron oxide/carbon nanocomposites as effective adsorbents for heavy metal ions removal, International Conference 20th Romanian International Conference on Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (RICCCE 20), 6-9 septembrie 2017, Poiana Brasov, Romania, S6-179, poster.
  18. Maria Andreea Nistor, Eliza Muntean, Simona Gabriela Muntean, Robert Ianos, Maria Elena Rădulescu-Grad, Cornelia Păcurariu, Iron oxide/carbon nanocomposites: influence of reaction conditions on the synthesis and application as specific sorbents, International Conference 20th Romanian International Conference on Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (RICCCE 20), 6-9 septembrie 2017, Poiana Brasov, Romania, S6-288-1, poster.
  19. Simona Gabriela Muntean, Maria Andreea Nistor, Adelina Andelescu, Maria Elena Rădulescu-Grad, Magnetic nanocomposites versus activated carbon: efficient adsorbents for removal of pollutants from aqueous solutions, International Symposium “The Environment and the Industry”, SIMI 2017, 28-29 September, 2017, Bucuresti, Romania, Abstracts Book, p. 45, POS13, ISSN-L: 1843-5831, poster.

Publications mentioning the project to the Aknowledgements section:
  1. Simona Gabriela Muntean, Maria Andreea Nistor, Antonia Adelina Andelescu, Maria Elena Rădulescu-Grad, Robert Ianoș, Magnetite nanocomposites, application for decontamination of wastewaters, Chem. Bull. "POLITEHNICA" Univ. (Timişoara), 2016, 61(75) 2, 66-71, Print ISSN 1224-6018, Online ISSN 2069-6310, (CNCSIS B+).
  2. Robert Ianoș, Cornelia Păcurariu, Simona Gabriela Muntean, Eliza Muntean, Daniel Nižňanský, Synthesis and characterization of iron oxide/carbon nanocomposites, efficient adsorbents for colored wastewaters treatment, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2018, 741, 1235-1246.
  3. Simona Gabriela Muntean, Andreea Maria Nistor, Eliza Muntean, Anamaria Todea, Robert Ianoș, Cornelia Păcurariu, Removal of colored organic pollutants from wastewaters by magnetite/carbon nanocomposites. Single and binary systems, Journal of Chemistry, 2018, 6249821, accepted.
  4. Adelina Andelescu, Andreea Maria Nistor, Simona Gabriela Muntean, Maria Elena Rădulescu-Grad, Adsorption studies on Copper, Cadmium and Zinc ions removal from aqueous solution using magnetite/carbon nanocomposites, Separation Science and Technology, 2018, LSST-2017-11490, accepted.

Research stages:
  1. Simona Gabriela Muntean: Institute of Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Laboratory of Ecological Chemistry, (http://chem.asm.md/en/cecep), corresponding member, D.Sc., professor Tudor Lupaşcu research group, October 2-8 2016, Chişinău, Moldova

Trainings:
  1. Tutorial on Capacitive Deionization, Prof. Matthew Suss (Technion, Israel) şi Dr. Maarten Biesheuvel (Wetsus, Olanda), Lleida, September 7, 2016. The tutorial included sections on experimental handling and electrosorption mechanism, and practical exercises for data analysis.