Defence Lin Wang: "Novel polymeric adsorbents for diclofenac sodium removal from aqueous solutions"
| When: | Th 10-07-2025 14:30 - 15:30 |
| Where: | Aula Academy Building |
Promotors: 1st promotor: Prof. Francesco Picchioni, 2nd promotor: Prof Gert-Jan Euverink
Abstract: The growing demand for sustainable water treatment technologies has highlightedthe limitations of conventional adsorbents. There is need for environmentallyfriendly alternatives that minimize toxic byproducts, reduce energy consumption, and employ green processing methods. This thesis investigates polyketone-basedmaterials and hydrogels as novel adsorbents for removing diclofenac sodium(DCFS), a pharmaceutical contaminant that persists in aquatic environments due toits widespread use, incomplete removal by conventional wastewater treatment, andcontinuous environmental release. Recognized as a "contaminant of emergingconcern" by the European Union, DCFS poses significant risks to both humanandecosystem health. The research is structured into two main sections. First, wedevelop polyketone-based adsorbents through targeted functional groupmodifications to enhance DCFS affinity. Second, we engineer hydrogels withoptimized swelling properties and adsorption capacity to improve their practical utility in water treatment applications. Throughout these investigations, webenchmark our synthesized adsorbents against commercial alternatives to evaluatetheir performance and real-world applicability.