The Project

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an emerging technology for the facile removal of charged ionic species from aqueous solutions, and is currently being widely explored for water desalination applications. The technology is based on ion electrosorption at the surface of a pair of electrically charged electrodes, commonly composed of highly porous carbon materials.

NANOPOL project aims at the development of novel electrochemical processes for water desalination and wastewater treatment applications using nanocomposite electrodes consisted of nanocarbon materials and conductive polymers (membrane-assisted capacitive deionization, mCDI).

In this way the system’s performance can be improved (up to 50%) as compared to the common CDI.

Methodology

Τhe main stages of the project concern the following:

Development of novel nanocomposite electrodes and ion-exchange membranes using nanocarbon materials (carbon nanotubes, graphene etc.) and conductive polymers.
Development of novel electrochemical-based processes using carbon-based nanocomposite electrodes and ion exchange membranes for water desalination, wastewater treatment (e.g., removal of heavy metals, selective demineralization, etc.).
Simulation studies for process optimization.
Demonstration of the developed technology and industrial exploitation.

[Source: Progress in Materials Science 58 (2013) 1388-1442]

Nanocarbon Materials

Graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibres and other 2-dimensional materials will be utilized.

Polymers

Polymeric materials of interest are polypyrrole and polyaniline, as well as their modified nanostructures for compatibility enhancement.

Other polymers can be proposed as alternatives to enhance the anionic or cationic character of the membranes.

Conductive Polymers (PANI)

Ion Exchange Membranes

Carbon Modification

Methods to be applied for the improvement of the nanocarbon materials’ properties:

Surface modification using different suitably selected functional groups, amines, etc.
Increase of the porosity, control of the conduction, doping with N.

Impregnation Techniques

Dry phase inversion method, where rGO / polyaniline (PANI) is added to a polyvinydene fluoride (PVDF) matrix.
Polymerization of the aniline in the presence of dispersed rGO sheets.
Electropolymerization (electrochemical deposition) of aniline using various dispersants in the presence of GO and / or MWCNTs.

[Source: Energy Environ. Science 7 (2014) 3683-3689]

Electrochemical Processes

The system that will be developed within NANOPOL Project will be applied in a water desalination process. The results will be compared with that of existing technologies (resins, etc.).
A modified system will be applied for the treatment of wastewaters from metallurgical processes that are enriched in heavy metals.
The use of solar energy as a renewable energy source will be explored.

More Information

Project Poster