Carbon dot/polylactic acid nanofibrous membranes for solar-mediated oil absorption/separation: Performance, environmental sustainability, ecotoxicity and reusability
Monica Torsello,
Shani Ben-Zichri,
Lucia Pesenti,
Sisira M. Kunnath,
Chiara Samorì,
Andrea Pasteris,
Greta Bacchelli,
Noa Prishkolnik,
Uri Ben-Nun,
Serena Righi,
Maria Letizia Focarete,
Sofiya Kolusheva,
Raz Jelinek,
Chiara Gualandi,
Paola Galletti
Affiliations
Monica Torsello
Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi, 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
Shani Ben-Zichri
Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
Lucia Pesenti
Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi, 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
Sisira M. Kunnath
Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
Chiara Samorì
Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi, 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
Andrea Pasteris
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Sant’Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy
Greta Bacchelli
Interdepartmental Centre for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRSA), University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto, 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy
Noa Prishkolnik
Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
Uri Ben-Nun
Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
Serena Righi
Interdepartmental Centre for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRSA), University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto, 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy; Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research on Advanced Applications in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Technology, CIRI-MAM, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento, 2, 40136, Bologna, Italy; Department of Physics and Astronomy “Augusto Righi”, University of Bologna, Viale Carlo Berti Pichat, 6/2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
Maria Letizia Focarete
Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi, 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy; INSTM UdR of Bologna, University of Bologna, Via Selmi, 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy; Health Sciences and Technologies – Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 40064, Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy
Sofiya Kolusheva
Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
Raz Jelinek
Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
Chiara Gualandi
Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi, 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy; INSTM UdR of Bologna, University of Bologna, Via Selmi, 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy; Health Sciences and Technologies – Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 40064, Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy; Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research on Advanced Applications in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Technology, CIRI-MAM, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento, 2, 40136, Bologna, Italy; Corresponding author. Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi, 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
Paola Galletti
Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi, 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
Carbon dots (CDs) are promising photothermal nanoparticles that can be utilized in environmental treatments. They exhibit favorable physicochemical properties, including low toxicity, physical and chemical stability, photo-dependant reversible behaviour, and environmentally friendly synthesis using benign building blocks. Here, we synthesized innovative CDs/polylactic acid (PLA) electrospun composite membranes for evaluating the removal of hydrophobic compounds like long-chain hydrocarbons or oils in biphasic mixtures with water. The ultimate goal was to develop innovative and sustainable solar-heated oil absorbents. Specifically, we fabricated PLA membranes with varying CD contents, characterized their morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties, and assessed the environmental impact of membrane production according to ISO 14040 and 14044 standards in a preliminary “cradle-to-gate” life cycle assessment study. Solar radiation experiments demonstrated that the CDs/PLA composites exhibited greater uptake of hydrophobic compounds compared to pure PLA membranes, ascribable to the CDs-induced photothermal effect. The adsorption and regeneration capacity of the new CDs/PLA membrane was demonstrated through multiple uptake/release cycles. Ecotoxicity analyses confirmed the safety profile of the new adsorbent system towards freshwater microalgae, further emphasizing its potential as an environmentally friendly solution for the removal of hydrophobic compounds in water treatment processes.
