Functionalization of Iron Nanoparticles with Linkers for Removal of Pollutants in Water

Today, quality monitoring of water resources played an influential role in its exploitation and use. Water sources usually contain heavy metals in minor concentrations. The research showed various methods of removing heavy metals in aqueous solutions, such as chemical reduction, ion exchange, adsorption, etc. Hence, the widespread applications of nanotechnology to remove toxic pollutants from different contaminated water sources are known. In this study, while the existence of other methods for pollutants elimination from water, the use of iron nanoparticles was investigated. Eco-friendly and cost-effective nanomaterials are vital to ultimately removing contaminants from water. Meanwhile, iron nanoparticles are available, cheap, and practical in water and wastewater treatment. Therefore, Nano Zero-Valeant Iron (nZVI) with high surface area, nanoscale particle size, unique catalytic activity, more reactivity than bulk iron, and mobility in the underground has attracted significant consideration due to their performance in removing pollutants from aqueous solutions. Since nZVI could have aggregated, various linkers have been used to stabilize these particles on the substrate, and the use of some linkers to support these nanoparticles was examined. The results showed that hydrophilic and biodegradable linkers such as Starch, Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), Polyethylene glycol (PEG), Polyacrylamide (PAM), and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) could increase the speed of chemical reaction in reducing pollutants from water. Because linkers often had different functional groups that could enhance the stabilizing of these particles on the substrate. Among these linkers, PVP, as a hydrophilic, cheap, and biodegradable polymer, has performed an excellent function in supporting nZVI.