Journal of Nanotechnology Nanomedicine & Nanobiotechnology Category: Medical Type: Research Article

Water Treatment through Mwcnt Nanomembranes

Jorge I Cifuentes^1* and Christian M Argueta¹: ¹ School of mechanical engineering and engineering research center, University of San Carlos of Guatemala, Guatemala

^*Corresponding Author(s):

Jorge I Cifuentes
School Of Mechanical Engineering And Engineering Research Center, University Of San Carlos Of Guatemala, Guatemala
Tel:+502 2418 9133,
Email:jicifuentes@ing.usac.edu.gt

Received Date: Jul 18, 2018

Accepted Date: Oct 25, 2018

Published Date: Nov 09, 2018

DOI:10.24966/NTMB-2044/100021

Abstract

In this research, a simple application of carbon nanotubes to filtrate water is explained. Nanomembranes were assembled using Mwcnt and cotton to create a mesh and fiber support to remove pollutants and meet the World Health Organization (WHO) parameters for drinking water. After the nanofiltration process the following results were obtained: Escherichia Coli was reduced from 6.8 per 100 ml to 2.0 per 100 ml, Turbidity obtained after nanofiltration was reduced from 4.04 to 0.23 mg/l; Magnesium content was reduced from 93.14 mg/l to 13.62 mg/l, total hardness was reduced from 450 mg/l to 132 mg/l, the color diminished from 58 units to 1.0 units, Ph got reduced from 6.87 to 6.44. The results show that the quality of water can be improved using multi wall carbon nanotubes to meet drinking water requirements. In addition, electric current was used through membranes to create electro separation of pollutants and let filtrated water to pass. The results also showed water with fewer pollutants and less turbidity after the nano filtration process. This is an approach in the use of nanotechnology for waste water treatment and increase the access to drinking water to more people around the World. This research was performed at School of mechanical engineering and engineering research center from University of San Carlos of Guatemala.

Keywords

Coliform germs; Electrodeposition; Filtration; Nanomaterials; Nanotubes

INTRODUCTION

Water is the most precious element of human life and all forms of life. In recent years, new technologies have emerged worldwide for filtration, purification and treatment of contaminants in water for example, ultraviolet light, reverse osmosis, membrane technology, activated carbon, polymerization, purification treatment of wastes and contaminants in water and more recently the application of nanomembranes technology into the filtration process [1]. Researchers have been conducted by Rusnano with cotton and carbon nanotubes, testing nanomembranes for filtration and separation of biological pollutants in water, NASA researches were performed in the United States through the NanoCeram TM Corporation has used nano ceramic filtration systems at the space station [2,3].

CARBON NANOTUBES (CNTS)

A carbon nanotube basically is a tube-shaped molecule made by carbon atoms. CNTs have a longitude of approximately one millimeter but new studies have been performed to develop longer nanotubes [4,5]. For this study Multi Wall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) were used to fabricate the nanomembranes.

ELECTRODEPOSITION

It is the application of a metal coating to a metallic or other conducting surface like carbon nanotubes by an electrochemical process. The process needs a cathode and an anode. The cathode (negative electrode) is immersed in an aqueous solution which contains the required metal in an oxidized form [6]. The anode is usually a piece of the metal being plated [7]. Components are electroplated to alter their appearance, to provide a protective coating to give the component special surface properties and to give engineering or mechanical properties [8].

This research was performed under the norm “COGUANOR NGO 29 001” which contains markers and parameters to have optimal potable water [9].

MWCNT MEMBRANES AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The carbon nanotubes used in this study were multiple wall nanotubes, Mwcnt. It also was used a glass container, cotton pads rubbing alcohol, aluminum strainer with a copper wire to conduct electricity, two 9v batteries, alligator clips, wooden craft sticks, plastic funnel and copper wires.

Figure 1 shows the placement of all the components in a diagram. The cotton pads were moistened with rubbing alcohol and filled with Mwcnt to create membranes the Mwcnt gives the membrane the capacity to conduct electricity.

Figure 1: Fabrication process diagram.

The bottom of the funnel was filled with three layers before place the cotton membrane, in the following way:
From bottom to top a cotton pad a thick layer of Mwcnt acting as nano filter and membrane and another cotton pad. The plastic funnel is placed into the glass container to continue with the process.

With the membranes ready a copper wire was connected to it using an alligator clip and then placed it above the three-layer membrane detailed before, as shown in figure 2. This step is very important because the cotton and Mwcnt act as a membrane and they should restrict the passage of water to act as a filter.

Figure 2: Nickel mesh, Mwcnt nanomembrane and electrical cables for electro-separation.

Later the aluminum strainer is attached with an alligator clip to a copper wire, as shown in figure 3 and then attached to the top of the funnel taking care to leave a space between the strainer and the membrane.

Figure 3: Laboratory test certificates.

The two wires were connected to a pair of 9v batteries which at that time had 9.48v in total. The tap water was poured into the funnel. The water acted as a conductor between the conducting membrane containing Mwcnt and the aluminum strainer both connected individually to the batteries.

In this process while the water was energized the Mwcnt acted as the cathode and the strainer as the anode. Most of the contaminants that were present in the water got attached to the nanotubes by the same principle of electrodeposition.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Based on the laboratory test certificates shown in figure 3 the tap water without any treatment showed a physiochemical and bacteriological analysis with several downsides; being the most important the high number of coliform germs. This had a value of 6.8 coliform germs/100cm³. The acceptable value for coliform germs based on the norm COGUANOR NGO 4 010, is ?1.8 germs/100cm³. (ISO COGUANOR NGO 4 010) (COGUANOR NTG 29001, drinking water).

After the treatment using nanotubes, the number of coliform germs decreased to a value of 2 coliform germs/100cm³, as shown in table 1 which is still greater than an acceptable value. Also, the presumptive and confirmatory tests improved, as shown in tables 2 and 3.

	*Pathogenic Escherichia coli/ total/100 ml*
Before nano filtration	6.8
After Mwcnt nano membranes filtration	2.0

Table 1: E. coli before and after nano membranes filtration per100 ml.

Normal test	Presumptive test	Confirmative test
Normal test	Presumptive test	Gas Formation
Sown quantity	Gas formation - 35 Celsius degrees	total	Fecal - 44.5 Celsius degrees
10,00 cm³	+ + + + +	+ + - - -	- - - - -
01,00 cm³	+ + - - -	+ -	- -
00,10 cm³	- - - - -	unnecessary	unnecessary

Table 2: Bacteriological analysis results before filtration.

Normal test	Presumptive test	Confirmative test
Normal test	Presumptive test	Gas Formation
Sown quantity	Gas formation - 35 Celsius degrees	total	Fecal - 44.5 Celsius degrees
10,00 cm³	+ + - - -	+ -	- -
01,00 cm³	- - - - -	unnecessary	unnecessary
00,10 cm³	- - - - -	unnecessary	unnecessary

Table 3: Bacteriological analysis results after filtration.

In table 4, all the physicochemical parameters that were improved are shown.

Water pollutants	Before filtration	After filtration
Total coliforms	6.8 per 100 ml	2.0 per 100 ml
pH	6.87 mg/l	6.44 mg/l
Turbidity	4.04mg/l	0.23mg/l
Total hardness	450 mg/l	132 mg/l
Color	58units	1.0unit
Magnesium	93.14 mg/l	13.62 mg/l
chlorides	18.5mg/l	17.50mg/l
Calcium	30.46 mg/l	27.25 mg/l
Sulfates	7.0mg/l	6.0mg/l
Manganese	0.132 mg/l	0.08 mg/l
Alkalinity and bicarbonates	126 mg/l	120 mg/l

Table 4: Physiochemical analysis.
The number of coliform germs could be better but different factors affected the experiment during the process. An example of these factors was that the membrane was not secured properly and the water passed too quickly through it avoiding the treatment.

The heat and oxidation of the nanotubes created a bluish color in the water which must be taken into consideration in future experiments.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This research was performed at school of mechanical engineering of University of San Carlos of Guatemala and Engineering Research Center (CII), USAC. Materials were provided by Kavic Engineering (Energy and Technologies) renewable energy and wastewater treatment company.

REFERENCES

Citation: Cifuentes JI, Argueta CM (2018) Water Treatment through Mwcnt Nanomembranes. J Nanotechnol Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 5: 021.

Copyright: © 2018 Jorge I Cifuentes, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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