(204e) Triboelectric Cellulose-Based Membrane Sensor for Heavy Metal Ions Removal and Detection in Wastewater | AIChE

(204e) Triboelectric Cellulose-Based Membrane Sensor for Heavy Metal Ions Removal and Detection in Wastewater

Authors 

Gan, L., Georgia Institute of Technology
Zou, H., Georgia Institute of Technology
Chen, Y., Georgia Institute of Technology
Ding, Y., Georgia Institute of Technology
Due to the unprecedented growth of urbanization and industrialization, the sustainable clean water supply has
been identified as a grand challenge in the 21st century. Wastewater reclamation can mitigate the escalating
water scarcity problem. However, heavy metal pollution is one of the most significant concerns for wastewater
reclamation, particularly given their severe adverse health effects on humans and ecosystems. Currently, heavy
metal removal and detection involve two separate procedures, as most conventional materials often excel at
either detecting or adsorbing heavy metal ions. Particularly, precise heavy metal detection typically requires
expensive equipment and professionally trained personnel. Recognizing these challenges, it is important to
develop a streamlined platform that incorporates both heavy metal identification and elimination. Herein, we
synthesized cellulose-based adsorptive membranes with amine ligands and realized improved multiple metal
adsorption capability. Heavy metal adsorbed membranes were later connected to a contact-separation mode
triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), and the relationship between triboelectric signal and adsorption
capacities was constructed. Results indicated that our triboelectric membrane sensor can not only effectively
remove heavy metals, but also exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity to detecting different heavy metals. This
work paves the way for a facile and reliable platform for heavy metal removal and detection, while also
broadening the use of forest bioproducts in water treatment applications through the functionalization of
cellulose-based materials.