Copper ferrocyanide chemically immobilized onto a polyvinylidene fluoride hollow-fibre membrane surface for the removal of aqueous cesium

ABSTRACT

A method of chemically bonding copper ferrocynide (CuFC) to the surface of a PVDF hollow-fibre membrane (PVDF-CuFC) was designed and the resulting PVDF-CuFC was applied to the effective removal of aqueous cesium (Cs). In order to chemically immobilize CuFC on the surface of the PVDF hollow-fibre membrane, carboxyl groups were introduced onto the membrane surface (PVDF-COOH) to peptide bond with amine groups from CuFC. The introduction of the carboxyl group onto the surface of the PVDF hollow-fibre membrane was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), while the immobilization of CuFC was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersed spectroscopy, FT-IR, and thermogravimetric analysis. The PVDF-CuFC showed higher Cs adsorption kinetics and adsorption capacity than PVDF-COOH. Moreover, as the initial pH increased, the amount of Cs adsorption by PVDF-CuFC also increased. However, the amount of Cs adsorption at pH 10 was slightly less. The applicability of PVDF-CuFC as a filter type adsorbent for the treatment of a Cs-contaminated water source is demonstrated by continuous filtration experiments.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Metal ferrocyanide
• chemical modification
• adsorption
• membrane filtration
• selectivity

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Nuclear Energy Development Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (2018M2B2B1065631).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Research Foundation of Korea: [Grant Number 2018M2B2B1065631].