TY - JOUR
T1 - Carbon dot/polylactic acid nanofibrous membranes for solar-mediated oil absorption/separation
T2 - Performance, environmental sustainability, ecotoxicity and reusability
AU - Torsello, Monica
AU - Ben-Zichri, Shani
AU - Pesenti, Lucia
AU - Kunnath, Sisira M.
AU - Samorì, Chiara
AU - Pasteris, Andrea
AU - Bacchelli, Greta
AU - Prishkolnik, Noa
AU - Ben-Nun, Uri
AU - Righi, Serena
AU - Focarete, Maria Letizia
AU - Kolusheva, Sofiya
AU - Jelinek, Raz
AU - Gualandi, Chiara
AU - Galletti, Paola
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024/2/29
Y1 - 2024/2/29
N2 - Carbon dots (CDs) are promising photothermal nanoparticles that can be utilized in environmental treatments. They exhibit favorable physicochemical properties, including low toxicity, physical and chemical stability, photo-dependant reversible behaviour, and environmentally friendly synthesis using benign building blocks. Here, we synthesized innovative CDs/polylactic acid (PLA) electrospun composite membranes for evaluating the removal of hydrophobic compounds like long-chain hydrocarbons or oils in biphasic mixtures with water. The ultimate goal was to develop innovative and sustainable solar-heated oil absorbents. Specifically, we fabricated PLA membranes with varying CD contents, characterized their morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties, and assessed the environmental impact of membrane production according to ISO 14040 and 14044 standards in a preliminary “cradle-to-gate” life cycle assessment study. Solar radiation experiments demonstrated that the CDs/PLA composites exhibited greater uptake of hydrophobic compounds compared to pure PLA membranes, ascribable to the CDs-induced photothermal effect. The adsorption and regeneration capacity of the new CDs/PLA membrane was demonstrated through multiple uptake/release cycles. Ecotoxicity analyses confirmed the safety profile of the new adsorbent system towards freshwater microalgae, further emphasizing its potential as an environmentally friendly solution for the removal of hydrophobic compounds in water treatment processes.
AB - Carbon dots (CDs) are promising photothermal nanoparticles that can be utilized in environmental treatments. They exhibit favorable physicochemical properties, including low toxicity, physical and chemical stability, photo-dependant reversible behaviour, and environmentally friendly synthesis using benign building blocks. Here, we synthesized innovative CDs/polylactic acid (PLA) electrospun composite membranes for evaluating the removal of hydrophobic compounds like long-chain hydrocarbons or oils in biphasic mixtures with water. The ultimate goal was to develop innovative and sustainable solar-heated oil absorbents. Specifically, we fabricated PLA membranes with varying CD contents, characterized their morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties, and assessed the environmental impact of membrane production according to ISO 14040 and 14044 standards in a preliminary “cradle-to-gate” life cycle assessment study. Solar radiation experiments demonstrated that the CDs/PLA composites exhibited greater uptake of hydrophobic compounds compared to pure PLA membranes, ascribable to the CDs-induced photothermal effect. The adsorption and regeneration capacity of the new CDs/PLA membrane was demonstrated through multiple uptake/release cycles. Ecotoxicity analyses confirmed the safety profile of the new adsorbent system towards freshwater microalgae, further emphasizing its potential as an environmentally friendly solution for the removal of hydrophobic compounds in water treatment processes.
KW - Carbon dots
KW - Electrospinning
KW - Oil-water separation
KW - Polylactic acid
KW - Solar energy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85185801102&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25417
DO - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25417
M3 - Article
C2 - 38420388
AN - SCOPUS:85185801102
SN - 2405-8440
VL - 10
JO - Heliyon
JF - Heliyon
IS - 4
M1 - e25417
ER -