Green synthesis of ultrapure La(OH)3 nanoparticles by one-step method through spark ablation and electrospinning and its application to phosphate removal
Shiyang Li (Tongji University)
Xiangfeng Huang (Tongji University)
Zhengyu Wan (Phenom Scientific, Shanghai)
Jia Liu (Tongji University)
Lijun Lu (Tongji University)
Kaiming Peng (Tongji University)
A. Schmidt-Ott (TU Delft - ChemE/Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage)
Rabin Bhattarai (University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign)
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Abstract
La(OH)3 metal engineered nanoparticles (MENPs) are efficient phosphate binders; however, complex synthesis procedures and purity as well as agglomeration issues impede their development and practical applications. Herein, a green and a one-step method in combination with the spark ablation aerosol technology and electrospinning is proposed for the synthesis of La(OH)3 MENPs; further, their application as phosphate binders are elucidated as a proof the concept. Material characterization results confirm the successful synthesis of ultrapure La(OH)3 MENPs, which has not been achieved before via an environmentally friendly one-step procedure. Small angle X-ray scattering and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy etching results show that La(OH)3 MENPs loading on the electrospun nanofibers are uniform in both two and three dimensions. The comparative tests revealed a high phosphate adsorption capacity (110.8 mg P/g La) and indicted that the La(OH)3 MENPs perform well; this was observed even under the interference of coexisting ions (Cl−, SO4 2−, NO3 −, and F−) at different pH values. After three cycles of solution-shaking treatment, the release of La(OH)3 was less than 1 wt% (0.5 wt%), which was acceptable for an adsorbent. These results indicate that the La(OH)3 MENP-loaded nanofibers are practical phosphate binders due to the simple production methods, low manufacturing cost, and impressive capacity. The proposed method significantly shortens the loading process and is a promising alternative for not only the synthesis of the adsorbent, but also for other engineering materials where loading is needed.
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