(767g) The Role of Pnipam in Degrading Chlorinated Contaminants in Water Using Iron/Palladium Functionalized MF Membranes

This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of incorporating the temperature responsive poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAm) polymer into a membrane system for the degradation of chlorinated organic compounds, specifically polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PNIPAm’s responsive nature can affect water flux behavior and partitioning of toxic pollutants. PNIPAm is known to show a sharp transition to a hydrophobic state at its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at around 32^oC, making PNIPAM attractive for many applications. The entrapment of reactive Fe/Pd nanoparticles in the temperature responsive PNIPAm polymer network for dechlorination and contaminant degradation of PCBs has been reported. This study also aims to evaluate PCB degradation by reactive immobilized nanoparticles in a PNIPAm functionalized PVDF MF membrane. The study quantifies contaminant adsorption onto the polymer domain using interaction parameters, as well as reactivity of the nanoparticles. Solute concentration is predicted as a function of length through the membrane, as a function of time, and the relationship between reactivity and temperature is assessed. Changing the temperature of the system affects inter-particle spacing and solute adsorption because of the changing PNIPAm conformation, as well as the intrinsic rate constant for the reaction. These effects are predicted, and verified by experimental degradation results. This research is supported by the NIEHS-SRP grant P42ES007380, and by the NSF KY EPSCOR program. Full-scale PAA functionalized PVDF membranes were developed through collaborative work with Nanostone-Sepro (Oceanside, CA, USA).