Nanomaterial grafted polymorphous activated carbon cloth surface for antibacterial, capacitive deionization and oil spill cleaning applications

Htet Htet Kyaw; Myo Tay Zar Myint; Mohammed A Al-Belushi; Sergey Dobretsov; Mohammed Al-Abri

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.141053

Nanomaterial grafted polymorphous activated carbon cloth surface for antibacterial, capacitive deionization and oil spill cleaning applications

Chemosphere. 2024 Feb:350:141053. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.141053. Epub 2023 Dec 26.

Authors

Htet Htet Kyaw¹, Myo Tay Zar Myint², Mohammed A Al-Belushi³, Sergey Dobretsov⁴, Mohammed Al-Abri⁵

Affiliations

¹ Nanotechnology Research Center, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 33, Al-Khoudh, 123, Muscat, Oman.
² Department of Physics, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 36, Al-Khoudh, 123, Muscat, Oman. Electronic address: myomyint@squ.edu.om.
³ Department of Marine Science and Fisheries, College of Agriculture and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 34, Al-Khoudh, 123, Muscat, Oman; Central Laboratory for Food Safety, Food Safety and Quality Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Wealth & Water Resources, PO Box 3094, Airport Central Post,111, Muscat, Oman.
⁴ Department of Marine Science and Fisheries, College of Agriculture and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 34, Al-Khoudh, 123, Muscat, Oman.
⁵ Nanotechnology Research Center, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 33, Al-Khoudh, 123, Muscat, Oman; Department of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 33, Al-Khoudh, 123, Muscat, Oman. Electronic address: alabri@squ.edu.om.

PMID: 38154669
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.141053

Abstract

This work reports the development of multifunctional or polymorphous surfaces using zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods, silica (SiO₂), and fluoropolymer functionalization in a sequential process. Firstly, zinc oxide nanorods were grown on activated carbon cloth (ACC) using a simple low-temperature synthesis process. ZnO nanorods-coated ACC substrate was applied to investigate the antimicrobial properties, and the results showed inhibition of 50% for Escherichia coli (E.coli) and 55% for Bacillus subtilis (B.subtilis) over 48 h of incubation time. Subsequent in-situ modification of silica nanoparticles like layer on ZnO nanorods-coated ACC surface was developed and used as an electrode for brackish water desalination in a capacitive deionization system. ZnO-SiO₂ modified ACC surface enhanced the desalination efficiency by 1.6 times, the salt removal rate (SRR) by threefold, and the durability (fouling prevention) for long-term usage compared to pristine ACC. Further modification of the ZnO-SiO₂-ACC surface using fluoropolymer rendered the surface superhydrophobic and oleophilic. Vegetable (1.4 g/g) and crude oil (1.6 g/g) adsorption capacities were achieved for modified surface which was 70% enhancement compared with pristine ACC. The dynamic oil spill adsorption test exhibited the complete removal of oil spills on water surfaces within a few seconds, suggesting a potential application in oil spill cleaning.

Keywords: Activated carbon cloth; Antibacterial; Capacitive deionization; Oil adsorption; Silica; Zinc oxide nanorods.

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
Charcoal
Fluorocarbon Polymers
Nanotubes* / chemistry
Petroleum Pollution*
Silicon Dioxide
Zinc Oxide* / chemistry

Substances

Charcoal
Zinc Oxide
Fluorocarbon Polymers
Silicon Dioxide
Anti-Bacterial Agents