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Tailoring Interactions of Random Copolymer Polyelectrolyte Complexes to Remove Nanoplastic Contaminants from Water.

Jeremy WangCurt WaltmannCaroline HarmsSumeng HuJohn HegartyBenjamin ShindelQifeng WangVinayak P DravidKenneth R ShullJohn M TorkelsonMonica Olvera de la Cruz
Published in: Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids (2023)
We investigate the usage of polyelectrolyte complex materials for water remediation purposes, specifically their ability to remove nanoplastics from water, on which there is currently little to no prior research. We demonstrate that oppositely charged random copolymers are effective at quantitatively removing nanoplastic contamination from aqueous solution. The mechanisms underlying this remediation ability are explored through computational simulations, with corroborating quartz crystal microbalance adsorption experiments. We find that hydrophobic nanostructures and interactions likely play an important role.
Keyphrases
  • drinking water
  • molecular dynamics
  • aqueous solution
  • ionic liquid
  • drug delivery
  • climate change