Comparative Study on the Decontamination Efficacy of Peelable Coatings for Heavy Metals Removal

• Published in: Water (Basel) 2023-03, Vol.15 (5), p.982
• Main Authors: Toader, Gabriela, Pulpea, Daniela, Diacon, Aurel, Rusen, Edina, Ginghina, Raluca Elena, Rotariu, Traian, Podaru, Alice Ionela, Moldovan, Andreea Elena, Gavrilescu, Maria, Gavrila, Ana-Mihaela, Trica, Bogdan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption spectroscopy; Acetic acid; Acids; Alginic acid; Ammunition; Atomic absorption spectroscopy; Atomic properties; Bentonite; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Cation exchange; Cation exchanging; Chelating agents; Chelation; Coatings; Comparative analysis; Comparative studies; Contaminants; Decontamination; Diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid; Edetic acid; Energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy; Entrapment; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acids; Explosives; Firing ranges; Glycerol; Heavy metals; Machining; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Methods; Nanoparticles; Natural polymers; Nuclear power plants; Nuclides; Phosphonates; Polymers; Polyvinyl alcohol; Protective coatings; Radiation therapy; Reagents; Refuse and refuse disposal; Scanning electron microscopy; Scientific imaging; Silver; Silver mines; Sodium; Sodium alginate; Solid wastes; Spectral analysis; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; X-ray spectroscopy
• ISSN: 2073-4441; 2073-4441
• DOI: 10.3390/w15050982

This study presents the formulation and application of strippable coatings for the entrapment and removal of heavy metals (HMs) and radio nuclides (RNs). The “green” formulations involve the use of a water-based solution consisting of a synthetic biodegradable polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), together with a natural polymer (sodium alginate) as the polymer matrix and bentonite as the reinforcing agent with cation exchange capacity. Four chelating agents comprising two classical chelating agents (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (DPTA)) and two “green” chelating agents (iminodisuccinic acid (IDS), 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC)) were used to evaluate the capacity to remove Cu, Sb, Zn, Sr, Pb, Co, and Hg from the contaminated surfaces. This decontamination method leads to the formation of a solid waste, thus eliminating the need for wastewater treatment. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy were used to comparatively evaluate the decontamination efficacy. EDX elemental mapping confirmed the entrapment of the contaminants inside the polymeric matrix.