Pb Removal on Carbon Nanotubes Membrane Decorated by ZnO Nanoparticles

Abstract

Metal pollution is one of the major environmental concerns. Many natural waters are polluted by metal ions as a result of their release by industrial plants or mining activities. Two different nanocomposites based on carbon nanotubes, obtained by catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and template CVD, supporting ZnO nanoparticles, were used for the removal of lead. The results (Pb removal up to 99,7%) indicate that the self-standing and handling membrane has an excellent metal retention capacity towards lead, due to the combination of the high adsorption selectivity of ZnO well dispersed on the adsorbent and the accessible surface area (CNTs diameter size larger than mesopores) of the carbon nanotubes inner walls.