The energy-free purification of trace thallium(I)-contaminated potable water using a high-selective filter paper with multi-layered Prussian blue decoration

Abstract

Thallium is a highly toxic metal, and trace amount of thallium(I) (Tl⁺) in potable water could cause a severe water crisis, which arouses the exploitation of highly-effective technology for purification of Tl⁺ contaminated water. This report proposes the multi-layered Prussian blue (PB)-decorated composite membranes (PB_x@PDA/PEI-FP) based on the aminated filter papers for Tl⁺ uptake. Extensively characterization by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer-attenuated total reflectance, scanning electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were performed to confirm the in situ growth of cubic PB crystals on filter paper membrane surfaces via the aminated layers, and the successful fabrication of multi-layered PB overcoats via the increasing of aminated layers. The effect of PB layers on Tl⁺ removal by PB_x@PDA/PEI-FP from simulated drinking water was evaluated as well as the influence of different experimental conditions. A trade-off between PB decoration layer number and PB distribution sizes is existed in Tl⁺ uptake by PB_x@PDA/PEI-FP. The double-layered PB₂@PDA/PEI-FP membrane showed the maximum sorption capacity, but its Tl⁺ uptake performance was weakened by the acid, coexisting ions (K⁺ and Na⁺) and powerful operation pressure, during filtrating a large volume of low-concentrated Tl⁺-containing water. However, the negative effect of coexisting ions on the Tl⁺ uptake could be effectively eliminated in weak alkaline water, and the Tl⁺ removal was increased up to 100% without any pressure driving for PB₂@PDA/PEI-FP membrane. Most importantly, PB₂@PDA/PEI-FP displayed the high-efficiency and high-selectivity in purifying the Tl⁺-spiked Pearl River water, in which the residual Tl⁺ in filtrate was less than 2 μg·L^–1 to meet the drinking water standard of United States Environmental Protection Agency. This work provides a feasible avenue to safeguard the drinking water in remote and underdeveloped area via the energy-free operation.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

membrane adsorption / Prussian blue / energy-free filtration / potable water / trace thallium(I)

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Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

The current study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 22006026, 52270001), Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Grant Nos. 2023A1515012506, 2019A1515110546), Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (Grant No. 202102080160), Project of Young Innovative Talents in Colleges and Universities of Guangdong Province (Grant No. 2019KQNCX111), Outstanding Youth Project of Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 2022B1515020030), Guangzhou Science and Technology Project (Grant Nos. 202201020530, 202201020200), Research Project of Guangzhou University (Grant No. YJ2023026).

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-023-2379-8 and is accessible for authorized users.

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