Porous Plastic Polymer Adsorbent for Water Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water purification methods, particularly those using activated carbon, are costly, energy-intensive, and environmentally detrimental due to the need for extensive material and energy resources, and struggle to effectively remove a wide range of contaminants such as hormones and antibiotics from wastewater.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing porous material elements based on plastic polymers, which are dissolved in an aqueous acid to form a viscous solution that precipitates into structures with a large surface area, allowing for effective adsorption of contaminants, thereby offering a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to activated carbon.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If activated carbon is used for water purification, then adsorption of contaminants is effective, but production costs and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the polymer material through controlled dissolution in formic acid and subsequent precipitation, creating a porous structure with optimized surface area and pore size distribution that enhances adsorption effectiveness while reducing the energy-intensive processing required for activated carbon production
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite porous structure by combining polymer matrices with controlled pore formations, resulting in a material that exhibits both mechanical stability and high adsorption capacity, thereby achieving effective contaminant removal with lower energy input compared to traditional activated carbon
2Reliability
If activated carbon is used for water purification, then contaminant removal is effective, but material and production resources are consumed extensively
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes waste polymer materials as starting substances, transforming discarded plastics into valuable porous adsorbents through dissolution and precipitation processes, thereby reducing the need for virgin materials and minimizing substance loss in the production chain
Solution Approach 2:
By controlling the dissolution and precipitation parameters of polymer materials, the invention creates a porous structure with high surface area and optimized pore size that maximizes adsorption capacity per unit mass, reducing the total material quantity needed for effective contaminant removal
3Reliability
If activated carbon is used for water purification, then adsorption capacity is high, but production process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary dissolution of polymer materials in formic acid to create a homogeneous solution before precipitation, ensuring uniform pore distribution and consistent adsorption properties throughout the material, thereby simplifying subsequent processing steps and reducing overall production complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention exploits phase transition from dissolved polymer solution to precipitated porous solid through controlled addition of non-solvent, creating the desired porous structure in a single step without requiring complex high-temperature carbonization and activation processes needed for activated carbon production
4Reliability
If activated carbon is used for water purification, then trace substance removal is effective, but environmental impact increases due to ecological disadvantages
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the chemical parameters of the polymer through controlled dissolution in formic acid and precipitation, creating a porous structure with optimized surface chemistry that enhances affinity for trace organic contaminants while using environmentally benign materials and processes compared to high-temperature activated carbon production
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs readily available polymer waste materials as starting substances, transforming short-lived waste plastics into functional adsorbents that can effectively remove trace substances from water, thereby reducing environmental impact by giving new life to waste materials rather than requiring extensive virgin resource extraction and processing
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The porous plastic polymer material elements demonstrate superior adsorption capabilities, enabling efficient removal of chemical and microbial contaminants from water, reducing production costs and environmental impact compared to traditional methods, and can be reused after regeneration.
Implementation Method 1
dissolved in an aqueous acid to form a viscous solution
Implementation Method 2
precipitates into structures with a large surface area
Implementation Method 3
substances such as chemical or microbial contaminants can advantageously be adsorbed from water/bodies of water onto the material elements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for producing a porous, plastics-polymer-based material element, to the material element produced using the method, and to the use thereof, in particular in the purification of water systems. The method comprises the steps of: providing a plastics polymer; dissolving the plastics polymer in an aqueous inorganic or organic acid in order to obtain an inorganic/organic acid–plastics-polymer solution having a dissolved plastics polymer; and transferring the inorganic/organic acid–plastics-polymer solution into a liquid precipitation medium, preferably into an aqueous medium, in order to precipitate and form the plastics-polymer-based material element.