Date of Graduation

8-2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (PhD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Chemical Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Greenlee, Lauren F.

Committee Member

Ford, David M.

Second Committee Member

Griggs, Chris S.

Third Committee Member

Beitle, Robert R. Jr.

Fourth Committee Member

Hestekin, Jamie A.

Keywords

Carbon-based Composites; Carbon-based Membranes; Membrane Stability; Water Treatment

Abstract

Carbonaceous materials such as graphene oxide, and activated ‎carbon have a wide range of ‎applications in water and wastewater treatment due to the high surface ‎area, unique structure, ‎and chemical and thermal stability. Carbon-based materials can be used as a ‎membrane, an ‎adsorbent, a support for nanomaterials, or ‎as a filler within membranes to remove contaminants ‎from water. In this research, the specific carbon materials and how their properties influence their ‎use and performance in ‎specific engineering applications is explored. ‎

Here, membrane filtration and adsorption/degradation of the water and wastewater using carbon-‎based material are investigated. The research firstly focuses on mixed-matrix polymeric ‎membranes containing chitosan as the matrix and graphene oxide as an additive to improve the ‎properties of the membranes. Two different sizes of graphene oxide ‎particles were added to a ‎chitosan matrix to improve the properties of a water filtration membrane. ‎The effect of graphene ‎oxide particle size on the morphology, structure, chemical composition, and ‎water filtration ‎performance was investigated. ‎

In addition, FeNi nanoparticle-carbon ‎composite materials are studied as a reactive treatment for ‎in situ groundwater remediation. The research includes the development of a specific synthesis ‎process for nickel-doped nanoscale zero valent iron (Ni-NZVI) ‎immobilization onto the carbon ‎support. ‎‏ ‏Then the new method was applied to make nanoparticle-carbon composites with five ‎different carbon types. ‎A variety of characterization were used to understand the relationship ‎between carbon properties and trichloroethylene (TCE) removal. The carbons only and the ‎composites were tested for TCE removal. The results suggested that the mechanism of TCE ‎removal by carbons is adsorption and is highly related to the carbon properties of surface area, ‎micro-pore volume, and functional groups on the surface. However, the mechanism of TCE ‎removal by composites was confirmed as a combination of adsorption and degradation. The ‎carbon properties did not affect TCE removal significantly when the carbon was used as a ‎support for the reactive nanoparticles (NPs). In addition, the effect of the Ni and carbon ratio on ‎TCE removal and Ni leaching was investigated. The Ni leaching was successfully decreased by ‎using composites with lower Ni:Fe ratios and higher carbon:Fe ratios.‎

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