Repurposing Quality-Downgraded Fluorinated Carbon Nanotubes as Eco-Additives in Microgel Composites for Sustained Water Release

Favour Lewechi Ezeogu, Gunendra Prasad Ojha, Promise Uzoamaka Otuokere, Mohammad Tarequl Islam, Tony Grady and Yunxiang Gao ()
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Favour Lewechi Ezeogu: Department of Chemistry and Physics, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA
Gunendra Prasad Ojha: Department of Chemistry and Physics, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA
Promise Uzoamaka Otuokere: Department of Chemistry and Physics, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA
Mohammad Tarequl Islam: Department of Chemistry and Physics, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA
Tony Grady: Department of Chemistry and Physics, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA
Yunxiang Gao: Department of Chemistry and Physics, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-17

Abstract: While significant efforts have been made to recycle metals like lithium or cobalt for sustainable development in the battery industry, the reuse of other high-value materials, such as fluorinated carbon nanotubes (FCNTs), remains underexplored. This study introduces a novel, eco-friendly method to repurpose quality-downgraded FCNTs (QD-FCNTs) as effective nano-additives in polyacrylamide (PAAm) microgel composites for water retention applications. Because QD-FCNTs are rich in surface defects, by employing a mild surface treatment with a low dosage of organic electron donor N , N , N ′ , N ′ -tetramethyl- p -phenylenediamine, we enhanced the hydrophilicity of QD-FCNTs without additional energy input or a large quantity of harmful chemicals. This treatment significantly improved the interaction between QD-FCNTs and PAAm microgels, leading to a 55% increase in water retention time compared to the composites made of untreated QD-FCNTs. Our findings present a sustainable approach to extending the lifecycle of FCNTs, contributing to the circular economy and offering practical solutions for potential water management in agriculture and environmental technologies.

Keywords: fluorinated carbon nanotubes; polyacrylamide composites; microgels; sustained water release; waste repurposing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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