University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Understanding the impact of polymer functionalized electrode fabrication and cycling conditions on stability and selective separation of micropollutants

Kayiwa, Emmanuel Rukundo

Content Files
KAYIWA-THESIS-2021.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/110876

Description

Title
Understanding the impact of polymer functionalized electrode fabrication and cycling conditions on stability and selective separation of micropollutants
Author(s)
Kayiwa, Emmanuel Rukundo
Issue Date
2021-04-30
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
  • Cusick, Roland
  • Su, Xiao
Department of Study
Civil & Environmental Eng
Discipline
Environ Engr in Civil Engr
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2021-09-17T04:06:57Z
Keyword(s)
  • Electrochemical selective separations
  • organometallic polymers
  • heavy metal oxyanions
  • environmental remediation.
Abstract
The main focus of this thesis is on selectively separating target contaminants present in an aqueous environment via electrochemically-mediated capture at polymer interfaces in order to improve water security. Heavy metal pollutants such as arsenic have diverse physico-chemical properties which renders them intractable in current treatment technologies such as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). These pollutants are able to pass through WWTPs and end up in the aquatic environment becoming a threat to ecosystems or end up in drinking water. Electrochemically mediated selective capture of the heavy metal pollutants is a promising technology but current methods lack molecular selectivity are unstable and have difficulty separating the target ion without producing toxic byproducts. Polymer coated electrodes comprised of poly(vinyl) ferrocne (PVF) and 3-ferrocenylpropyl acrylamide (PFPMAm) have been developed to selectively separate arsenic due to their electronic tunability, fast electron transfer, redox processes at moderate potentials below that of water splitting, and molecular level recognition of target pollutants of concern. Properties of the resulting redox polymer electrode were also investigated using various analytical instruments.
Graduation Semester
2021-05
Type of Resource
Thesis
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/110876
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2021 Emmanuel Kayiwa

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Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations and Theses - Civil and Environmental Engineering