Pal Chandrika Ashwinikumar, Choi Yu-Lim, Lingamdinne Lakshmi Prasanna, Kulkarni Rakesh, Karri Rama Rao, Koduru Janardhan Reddy, Chang Yoon-Young
Department of Environmental Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, 01897, Republic of Korea.
Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 6;15(1):901. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-84872-5.
This study explores the enhanced adsorption performance of activated carbon felt (ACF) for Cu(II) and Cd(II) ions, achieved using a dual-synergistic approach combining MnO coating and plasma treatment. ACF's intrinsic properties, including a high surface area (~ 1000-2000 m²/g), large porosity, and excellent mechanical stability, make it a promising material for environmental applications. However, its limited surface functional groups hinder its adsorption efficiency for heavy metals. Conventional acid treatments, though effective in introducing functional groups, compromise ACF's structural integrity and pose environmental hazards. The non-thermal plasma method addresses these challenges by introducing oxygen-rich functional groups and MnO species without using harmful chemicals, preserving the material's mechanical and morphological properties. This study addresses key challenges in adsorption technologies, such as inefficiencies in multi-contaminant systems and adsorbent degradation through plasma-aided modifications. The synergistic modification enhances adsorption performance by leveraging mechanisms such as ion exchange, complexation, and co-precipitation. Adsorption experiments revealed maximum adsorption capacities of 163.39 mg/g for Cu(II) and 214.59 mg/g for Cd(II), with an extended equilibrium time of 720 min at pH 5. This research highlights the significance of plasma-aided modification strategies for developing sustainable and efficient heavy metal adsorbents, contributing to advancements in wastewater treatment technologies.
本研究探索了采用MnO涂层与等离子体处理相结合的双协同方法实现的活性炭毡（ACF）对Cu(II)和Cd(II)离子增强的吸附性能。ACF的固有特性，包括高比表面积（约1000 - 2000 m²/g）、大孔隙率和出色的机械稳定性，使其成为环境应用中有前景的材料。然而，其有限的表面官能团阻碍了其对重金属的吸附效率。传统的酸处理虽然在引入官能团方面有效，但会损害ACF的结构完整性并带来环境危害。非热等离子体方法通过引入富氧官能团和MnO物种来应对这些挑战，且不使用有害化学物质，从而保留了材料的机械和形态性能。本研究解决了吸附技术中的关键挑战，例如多污染物系统中的低效性以及通过等离子体辅助改性导致的吸附剂降解问题。这种协同改性通过利用离子交换、络合和共沉淀等机制提高了吸附性能。吸附实验表明，在pH值为5时，对Cu(II)的最大吸附容量为163.39 mg/g，对Cd(II)为214.59 mg/g，平衡时间延长至720分钟。本研究强调了等离子体辅助改性策略对于开发可持续且高效的重金属吸附剂的重要性，为废水处理技术的进步做出了贡献。
