Synthesis, characterisation and evaluation of functionalized Lignocelluloses-clay nanocomposites for organic pollutant removal from water

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dc.contributor.advisorTichagwa, Len
dc.contributor.advisorLutz, Men
dc.contributor.advisorKatwire, D Men
dc.contributor.authorMafukidze, Donovan Men
dc.date.accessioned2026-08-12T23:53:35Z
dc.date.available2026-08-12T23:53:35Z
dc.date.issued2015en
dc.description.abstractPMPSgLig-NaMMT nanocomposites were prepared from methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS), lignocellulose and montmorillonite clay. The potential enhancement of organic pollutant adsorption capabilities of PMPSgLig-NaMMT nanocomposite from water through functionalization was investigated. PMPSgLig-NaMMT was functionalized by esterification and etherification using different methods so as to increase the surface hydrophobicity of the material and hence improve its compatibility with the target pollutants. Specific chemical routes specially tailored for PMPSgLig-NaMMT were established for functionalization mostly based on the common esterification (Fischer esterification) and etherification (Williamson‟s etherification) reactions. In the functionalization methods, factors such as pH environment, nanocomposite composition, nature of functionalization moiety, and use of or absence of solvents and their variations were studied. FT-IR, XRD, SEM and TGA were used to characterize the synthesized and functionalized nanoadsorbents. The techniques showed successful functionalization via esterification and etherification methods albeit to different extents, with clear retention of the material‟s original structure though there were signs of degradation with some methods. Characterization was supported by adsorption studies to validate implications and draw conclusions. The use of 1,10-phenathroline as a model organic pollutant in water in the adsorption studies showed that adsorbents conformed to monolayer adsorption following pseudo-second order kinetics for adsorption of organic pollutants accurately represented. Most importantly the studies revealed the significant impact of the nanocomposite composition on the overall absorbent performance. Adsorption studies also showed that functionalization via esterification methods gave rise to better adsorbents.en
dc.format140 leavesen
dc.formatpdfen
dc.identifier.citationMafukidze, Donovan M. 2015en
dc.identifier.othervital:11356en
dc.identifier.otherhttp://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021296en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11837/4594
dc.language.isoEnglishen
dc.publisherUniversity of Fort Hareen
dc.publisherFaculty of Science & Agricultureen
dc.rightsUniversity of Fort Hareen
dc.titleSynthesis, characterisation and evaluation of functionalized Lignocelluloses-clay nanocomposites for organic pollutant removal from wateren
dc.title.alternativeSynthesis, characterisation and evaluation of functionalized Lignocelluloses-clay nanocomposites for organic pollutant removal from wateren
dc.typeThesisen
dc.typeMastersen
dc.typeMSc (Chemistry)en

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