An Innovative Approach for Elemental Mercury Adsorption Using X-ray Irradiation and Electrospun Nylon/Chitosan Nanofibers

• Published in: Polymers Vol. 16; no. 12; p. 1721
• Main Authors: Yalcinkaya, Baturalp, Strejc, Martin, Yalcinkaya, Fatma, Spirek, Tomas, Louda, Petr, Buczkowska, Katarzyna Ewa, Bousa, Milan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 17-06-2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Adsorption; Cellulose acetate; Chemical bonds; Chitosan; Coal-fired power plants; Electric fields; Electrodes; electrospinning; Emissions; Fourier transforms; Gases; Magnetic fields; Mercury (metal); mercury filtration; Microscopy; Morphology; Nanofibers; Nitrogen; Photoionization; Pollutants; polyamide; Polyamide resins; Polymers; Polyvinyl alcohol; Radiation; Soil contamination; X ray irradiation; X-rays; Czech Republic; Germany; Prague Czech Republic; chitosan; sustainable production; electrospinning; innovative development; polyamide; mercury filtration; X-ray irradiation; nanofibers
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym16121721

A novel approach was proposed, utilizing an electrical field and X-ray irradiation to oxidize elemental mercury (Hg
) and encapsulate it within a nanofibrous mat made of Polyamide 6/Chitosan. The X-rays contributed significantly to the conversion of Hg
into Hg
by producing electrons through the photoionization of gas molecules. The positive and negative pole electrodes generated an electric field that exerted a magnetic force, resulting in the redirection of oxidized elemental mercury towards the negative pole electrode, which was coupled with a Polyamide 6/Chitosan nanofiber mat. The evaluation of the Polyamide 6/Chitosan nanofibers exposed to oxidized mercury showed that the mercury, found in the steam of a specially designed filtration device, was captured in two different forms. Firstly, it was chemically bonded with concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 10 ng of Hg in total. Secondly, it was retained on the surface of the Polyamide 6/Chitosan nanofibers with a concentration of 10 microg/m
of Hg per minute. Nevertheless, a concentration of 10 microg/m
of mercury is considered significant, given that the emission levels of mercury from each coal power plant typically vary from approximately 4.72 to 44.07 microg/m
. Thus, this research presents a viable approach to reducing mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, which could result in lower operational expenses and less secondary environmental effects.