Synthesis of Nanostructured Membranes Containing N-methyl-Glucamide Moieties for Selective Arsenic Removal from Water

DANIELLE CARETTI; J. ERTL; NATALIA CASÍS; MARIA MARTA FIDALGO DE CORTALEZZI; DIANA ESTENOZ

Cancún

Congreso; XXII International Materials Research Congress IMRC 2013; 2013

Sociedad Mexicana de Materiales

In some geographical areas, like South America, the amount of arsenic in water is particularly high causing various severe pathologies. For this reason a selective removal of arsenic from water is crucial to reduce its concentration. In this work, the synthesis of new monomers containing N-methyl-glucamide  segments was studied. Furthermore, the incorporation of protective groups in the molecular structure was investigated in order to avoid the inhibition phenomena during the polymerization. The functionalized monomers exhibited ability to selectively remove arsenate ions from water and were tested for their application in the fabrication of porous membranes. Membranes with well defined and well controlled porosities and morphology were obtained from templates made from silica particles. The templates were prepared by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The monomers synthesized were polymerized into the void spaces of the deposit, yielding a 3D porous membrane upon dissolution of the particles. Methacrylic monomer linked to the N-methyl-glucamide chain and protecting the hydroxyles by trimethylsilane was able to copolymerize with other monomers and during the silica dissolution spontaneously regenerates the hydroxyles which are necessary for the removal of arsenic species by complexation mechanisms.