loading page

A First-Principles Approach for Treating Dye Wastewater
  • +2
  • Adriano Santana,
  • Andreia Farinha,
  • Aniela Torano,
  • Mahmoud Ibrahim,
  • Himanshu Mishra
Adriano Santana
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Andreia Farinha
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Author Profile
Aniela Torano
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Author Profile
Mahmoud Ibrahim
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Author Profile
Himanshu Mishra
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Author Profile

Abstract

Numerous materials are employed for treating wastewaters, e.g., for the removal of dyes from wastewater in the textile industry. However, the regeneration/reuse of these materials is still seldom practiced. Quantitative insights into intermolecular forces between the contaminants and the functional surfaces might aid the rational design of reusable materials. Here, we compare the efficacies of aliphatic (C8H18), aromatic (C6H6), and aromatic perfluorinated (C6F6) moieties at removing methylene blue (MB+), as a surrogate dye, from water. We employed DFT with an implicit water model (PCM) to accurately determine the contributions of the solvent’s electrostatics in the adsorption process. These calculations pinpointed the relative contributions of π-π stacking, van der Waals complexation, hydrogen bonding, and cation-π interactions. QM predicted that MB+ would bind the strongest with C6F6 due to hydrogen bonding and the weakest with C8H18. Laboratory experiments revealed that despite the similar hydrophobicity of silica beads functionalized with Si-C8H17, Si-C6H5, and Si-C6F5, as characterized by similar water contact angles, the relative uptake of aqueous MB+ varied as Si-C6F5 (95%) > Si-C6H5 (35%) > Si-C8H17 (3%). This first-principles-led experimental approach can be extended to other classes of dyes, and it should advance the rational design of adsorbents for treating wastewaters.
11 Jun 2020Submitted to International Journal of Quantum Chemistry
11 Jun 2020Submission Checks Completed
11 Jun 2020Assigned to Editor
06 Jul 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 Jul 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Jul 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
04 Sep 20201st Revision Received
04 Sep 2020Submission Checks Completed
04 Sep 2020Assigned to Editor
09 Sep 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 Sep 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Sep 2020Editorial Decision: Accept