Work Packages
The purpose of WP1 is to synthesize and characterize the necessary quantities of polytopic organic substituents required for the synthesis of IEMOFs (WP2).
The deliverables of WP1 will be synthesis protocols of the organic substituents and the spectroscopic and analytical data such as e.g. IR, 1H and/or 13C-NMR, ESI-MS and elemental analyzes (C, H, N) for the organic molecules to be synthesized.
The purpose of WP2 is to synthesize the IEMOFs that will be used in WP3 and WP4 and to carry out the encapsulation of the IEMOFs in organic polymers, such as calcium alginate (CA) or alginic acid (HA). Finally, IEMOFs and their composites will be characterized with a variety of physical and spectroscopic techniques.
The WP2 deliverables will be synthetic protocols of IEMOFs and IEMOF/CA(HA) composites, spectroscopic/physical/analytical data of IEMOFs and IEMOF/CA(HA) composites, as well as an announcement and presentation at an international and/or local conference.
In WP3, extensive batch sorption studies will be carried out to evaluate WP2 materials as heavy metal ion sorbents. Specifically, sorption studies will include kinetic studies, thermodynamic studies, Investigation of sorption dependence on pH, sorption experiments in the presence of competing ions and investigation of sorption selectivity and regeneration-reuse/recycling studies. WP3 includes the investigation of the performance of IEMOFs and IEMOF-CA (HA) composites, as stationary phases (sorbents) in small-scale fixed-bed columns for the sorption of toxic ions (HgII, PbII, CdII, CuII, NiII, CoII, CrVI, AsIII/V) under a variety of conditions (different initial concentrations of metal ions, solutions with mixtures ions and various pH values, etc). In addition, in the framework of WP3, detailed studies of the regeneration-reuse/recycling of the columns will be carried out.
The deliverables of WP3 will be the aggregated results of the batch sorption studies, the results of the small-scale column studies as well as two announcements and two presentations at international and/or local conferences.
In WP4 ion exchange columns will be developed which will have as packing materials mixtures of silica sand and IEMOFs or IEMOF-CA (HA) composites. Large-scale ion exchange columns will be tested for the treatment of large amounts of waste. Measuring the concentration of the ions in the solutions after they have passed through the column will produce the “overflow” curves of the column and data such as the sorption capacity of the column up to the overflow point and the maximum sorption amount of the column. In addition, detailed regeneration-reuse-/recycling studies of the column will be carried out.
WP4 deliverables will be a report on the breakpoint and peak sorption rates of the columns and a report on the regeneration-reuse/recycling studies of the large-scale columns.
WP5 includes the market study and analysis as well as the legislative framework regarding the methods of treatment of wastewater contaminated with heavy metals, their management and cost as well as preparation of the Patent Application.
The deliverables of WP5 will be a report outlining the market analysis as well as the legislative framework that governs it regarding the management of contaminated wastewater and a report on the Patent Application.
