Novel Production of Nanoscale Zero-Valent Copper Using a Rotating Packed Bed with Blade Packings

Recently, a rotating packed bed with blade packings has been developed for mass-producing ZnO nanoparticles, CuO nanoparticles, and nanoscale zero-valent iron. Because flow pattern and mixing efficiency of a rotating packed bed with blade packings are different from those of a conventional rotating packed bed, a rotating packed bed with blade packings could have characteristics of micromixing dissimilar to those of a conventional rotating packed bed. Furthermore, a rotating packed bed with blade packings could provide a smaller surface area of packings and have a higher efficiency of micomixng at larger flow rates. Accordingly, a rotating packed bed with blade packings would be more applicable to the mass-production of nanoparticles. The main goal of this study is to study the performance of a rotating packed bed with blade packings for producing nanoscale zero-valent copper (nZVC) with liquid-phase chemical reduction. A rotating packed bed with blade packings would be utilized for the mass-production of nZVC in the industry. Additionally, the performance of produced nZVC in activating persulfate (PS) will be examined for degrading dye and pharmaceutical contaminants.In the first part of this study, a rotating packed bed with blade packings with sodium borohydride reductant will be adopted to develop a process of mass-production of nZVC. The properties and activities of mass-produced nZVC will be studied as a function of the production parameters, including concentration of copper ion, concentration of sodium borohydride, rotational speed, flow rates, and copper sources. nZVC with the highest activity will be used for degrading dye contaminant. The degradation of dye will be studied with the effect of the main operating variables, which are pH of aqueous dye, dosage of nZVC, and concentration of dye.In the second part of this study, a rotating packed bed with blade packings with ascorbic acid reductant will be adopted to develop a process of green-production of nZVC. The properties and activities of green-produced nZVC will be studied as a function of the production parameters, including concentration of copper ion, concentration of ascorbic acid, rotational speed, flow rates, and copper sources. Feasibility of using produced nZVC and PS to degrade dye contaminant in aqueous solutions will be examined with the effect of the operating variables, which are concentration of PS, dosage of nZVC, pH of aqueous dye, concentration of dye, species of inorganic anions, and concentration of inorganic anions.In the third part of this study, a rotating packed bed with blade packings with waste solutions that contain copper ion will be adopted to develop a novel process of production of nZVC. The properties and activities of novel-produced nZVC will be studied as a function of the production parameters, including concentration of waste solutions that contain copper ion, concentration of reductants, rotational speed, and flow rates. Feasibility of using produced nZVC and PS to degrade pharmaceutical contaminant in aqueous solutions will be examined with the effect of the operating variables, which are concentration of PS, dosage of nZVC, pH of aqueous pharmaceuticals, concentration of pharmaceuticals, species of inorganic anions, and concentration of inorganic anions.

Project ID:PB10707-0318
External Project ID:MOST107-2221-E182-003