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Block ratio optimized cationic polyacrylamides for enhanced nitrate rejection under applied potential

  • Nitrate contamination in water sources is a growing environmental concern, threatening both human health and ecosystems. However, its combination with sodium forms NaNO3, a compound essential for various industrial applications. The integration of charged polymers and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes presents a promising approach to capture undesired ions and enhance water purification efficiency. In this paper, diblock cationic polyacrylamides (DCPAMs) as charged polymers are evaluated separately in bulk solution and in combination with the RO process to capture nitrite ions introduced by NaNO3. Molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to systematically investigate the effects of polymer block ratio and concentration, as well as salt concentration, on NO−3 capturing. Our results in bulk solution indicate that an optimal block ratio of 8:12 yields the highest performance, with polymers adopting a stretched conformation. When an electric potential is applied, anions are stronglyNitrate contamination in water sources is a growing environmental concern, threatening both human health and ecosystems. However, its combination with sodium forms NaNO3, a compound essential for various industrial applications. The integration of charged polymers and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes presents a promising approach to capture undesired ions and enhance water purification efficiency. In this paper, diblock cationic polyacrylamides (DCPAMs) as charged polymers are evaluated separately in bulk solution and in combination with the RO process to capture nitrite ions introduced by NaNO3. Molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to systematically investigate the effects of polymer block ratio and concentration, as well as salt concentration, on NO−3 capturing. Our results in bulk solution indicate that an optimal block ratio of 8:12 yields the highest performance, with polymers adopting a stretched conformation. When an electric potential is applied, anions are strongly attracted to the positively charged electrode, and nitrate ions remain closer to the electrode surface than other ions. Our findings reveal that a 12:8 ratio outperforms all other ratios. The simultaneous application of RO membranes and DCPAMs achieves salt rejection efficiencies ranging from 78% to 100%, depending on DCPAM type and salt concentration. These findings pave the way for further computational studies on combined processes to advance water purification technologies.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author:Hossein Vahid, Arsalan Hashemi, Mohammad Khavani, Abhinav SharmaORCiDGND, Mohammad R. K. Mofrad, Tapio Ala-Nissila
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:384-opus4-1217370
Frontdoor URLhttps://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/121737
ISSN:1385-8947OPAC
Parent Title (English):Chemical Engineering Journal
Publisher:Elsevier BV
Place of publication:Amsterdam
Type:Article
Language:English
Year of first Publication:2025
Publishing Institution:Universität Augsburg
Release Date:2025/05/05
Volume:513
First Page:162346
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.162346
Institutes:Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät / Institut für Physik
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät / Institut für Physik / Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Physik II
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 53 Physik / 530 Physik
Licence (German):CC-BY 4.0: Creative Commons: Namensnennung (mit Print on Demand)