1 research outputs found
Entrapment and Removal of Carbon Nanotubes and Fullerenes by Coprecipitation with Calcium Carbonate Beads
Production, growth, and obvious health
and environmental concerns
about engineered nanomaterials (ENM) require development of methods
for their entrapping/removal. Here, we propose a facile method for
removal of carbon nanomaterials from water solutions based on coprecipitation
with vaterite (CaCO<sub>3</sub>) beads. CaCO<sub>3</sub> beads are
formed by an aggregation of initially formed amorphous CaCO<sub>3</sub> nanoparticles that efficiently incorporate nanomaterials in solution
into the growing beads so that can be finally removed by settling.
We show that by using this approach, a high percentage of fullerenes
and carbon nanotubes (typically over 95%) can be removed in a broad
range of ENM concentrations. We also discuss potential applications
of the method for treatment of contaminated water