NU 2020-043
INVENTORS Jeremy Wang* Monica Olvera de la Cruz John M. Torkelson
SHORT DESCRIPTION A system of random copolymer polyelectrolytes for trapping and aggregating water contaminants
BACKGROUND The presence of contaminants in water can negatively impact human health and is a growing problem for municipal water sources as well as an increasing liability for the manufacturing industry. Traditional decontamination methods, such as single component flocculation, are ineffective at removing certain contaminants including cationic and hydrophobic small molecules. Novel dual component flocculation techniques, such as polyelectrolyte complexation, are an appealing alternative capable of sequestering diversely charged contaminants. In polyelectrolyte complexation, positively and negatively charged polymers self-assemble around contaminants to form aggregates which can be removed as a single mass. However, they must be carefully designed to increase the uptake of contaminants from water while enhancing the stability of the aggregate.
ABSTRACT Northwestern researchers have developed a novel pair of anionic and cationic random copolymers for flocculating and extracting diverse water contaminants via the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes. The anionic copolymers contain hydrophilic and hydrophobic side chains which form self-assembled hydrophobic domains, while the high molecular weight cationic copolymers contain hydrophilic and charged side groups. These copolymers aggregate into polyelectrolyte complexes while simultaneously sequestrating small cationic, anionic, and hydrophobic organic molecules contaminating the water. Additionally, the polyelectrolyte complexes are can be removed from water easily as they are mechanically stable. These materials are highly scalable and compatible with current flocculation practices.
APPLICATIONS
ADVANTAGES
IP STATUS Provisional and PCT applications have been filed.
PUBLICATION Wang J, Waltmann C, Umana-Kossio H, Olvera de la Cruz M and Torkelson J (2021) Heterogeneous Charged Complexes of Random Copolymers for the Segregation of Organic Molecules. ASC Central Science, 7: 882-891.