Nano-engineered natural sponge as a recyclable and deformable reactor for ultrafast conversion of pollutants from water. (16th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Mingyue; Shan, Cancan; Chang, Heng; Zhang, Ze; Huang, Renliang; Lee, Dong Woog; Qi, Wei; He, Zhimin; Su, Rongxin
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 247(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01-16
• Subjects: Natural sponge -- Deformable reactor -- Catalysis -- Environmental remediation; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 660
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2021.117049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2509

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Alkaline-treated sponge based novel reactors for ultrafast degradation of pollutants. Metal nanocatalysts were immobilized on sponge. Abundant connected pore structures of sponge promote mass transfer. Complete degradation within 1 min found in batch-wise reactor. No loss of reactivity seen in continuous flow reactor system. Abstract: An alkaline-modified natural sponge was applied as support of gold and silver nanocatalysts and a deformable reactor to hold the reaction solution, quickly adsorb several kinds of environmental pollutants (4-nitrophenol, hexavalent chromium, and methyl orange) and efficiently catalyse their conversion. As the reaction solution is sustained in the connecting micro-pores constructed by the stretched and knotted sponge fibers, the catalytic reaction is free from external mass transfer and suffers slight internal mass transfer limitation. This batch-wise reaction system employing an operation procedure of injection-extrusion achieved a nearly complete conversion of the reactants within 1 min or much less. This compressible support can also be packed in a continuous flow reaction system and can be repeated use for 37 times without any loss of catalytic activity. This study provides a generalizable and straightforward strategy for utilizing deformable soft supports that may inspire some unique industrial applications.