Water treatment by adsorption with electrochemical regeneration using graphene based materials

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dc.contributor.advisorRoberts, Edward P.L.
dc.contributor.authorSharif, Farbod
dc.contributor.committeememberTrifkovic, Milana
dc.contributor.committeememberKaran, Kunal
dc.contributor.committeememberSundararaj, Uttandaraman
dc.contributor.committeememberPope, Michael
dc.contributor.committeememberPark, Simon
dc.date2018-06
dc.date.accessioned2018-01-25T18:35:24Z
dc.date.available2018-01-25T18:35:24Z
dc.date.issued2018-01-22
dc.description.abstractAdsorption is a simple and effective process for the removal of organic contaminants with low concentration from water. However, the disposal of adsorbent loaded with toxic contaminants may not be feasible, especially for adsorbents which are not available in large quantities or are expensive to produce. In order to meet these challenges, an economical process to treat water contaminated with dissolved organics is to utilize adsorption coupled with electrochemical oxidation. The adsorbents employed in adsorption-electrochemical regeneration processes have a low adsorptive capacity (ca. 1 mg g-1), low electrochemical regeneration efficiency (<100 %) or high energy consumption. There was thus a need to produce new materials that have both good regeneration efficiency and adsorptive capacity. This PhD project focuses on an investigation of graphene adsorbents to be utilized in adsorption and electrochemical regeneration. In this regard, different graphene nanocomposite namely graphene / iron oxide, graphene / TiO2 and graphene / SnO2 have been synthesized, characterized, and applied in adsorption and regeneration process. Reduced graphene oxide / iron oxide showed good capability to adsorb the organic contaminants with adsorptive capacity of 39 mg g-1 and be regenerated electrochemically with a regeneration efficiency of 100% for a charge passed of 39 C per mg-1 adsorbate. However, the surface of the rGO was observed to be corroded during electrochemical regeneration. On the other hand, Graphene / TiO2 showed a lower absorptive capacity, but with lower required charge passed of 21 C per mg-1 adsorbate. TEM studies revealed that the bare graphene was rapidly corroded, while graphene / TiO2 could tolerate more cycles of adsorption and electrochemical regeneration. Unlike graphene / TiO2, graphene / SnO2 showed higher adsorptive capacity combined with a low required charge for 100% regeneration of 21 C per mg-1 adsorbate. Graphene / SnO2 nanocomposites also showed good performance in presence of sodium sulphate as the electrolyte. The effect of the synthesis conditions on the graphene prepared by electrochemical exfoliation was also investigated. The results show that graphene synthesized using ammonium phosphate possessed higher electrocatalytic activity and thermal stability than the graphenes synthesized using other salt solutions.en_US
dc.identifier.citationSharif, F. (2018). Water treatment by adsorption with electrochemical regeneration using graphene based materials (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/5400
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/106319
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisher.facultySchulich School of Engineeringen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en_US
dc.subjectGrapheneen_US
dc.subjectwater treatmenten_US
dc.subjectelectrochemical regenerationen_US
dc.subject.classificationEngineeringen_US
dc.subject.classificationEngineering--Chemicalen_US
dc.titleWater treatment by adsorption with electrochemical regeneration using graphene based materialsen_US
dc.typedoctoral thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineering – Chemical & Petroleumen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
ucalgary.thesis.checklistI confirm that I have submitted all of the required forms to Faculty of Graduate Studies.en_US
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