Date of Award

4-2024

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering

Department

Chemical and Paper Engineering

First Advisor

Mert Atilhan, PhD.

Second Advisor

James Springstead, PhD.

Third Advisor

Priyana Sharma, PhD.

Keywords

Deep eutectic solvents, ionic liquids, liquid-liquid extraction, organic pollutants, water treatment

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Pollution is a topic of significant research within the scientific community. The massive demand for industrial processes to deliver the technology and resources we rely on has opened numerous avenues for pollutants to enter the environment, affecting air, water, soil, and the food chain. Oftentimes, these pathways are intertwined, and the interplay between water and air currents spreads pollution globally, creating a cascade of environmental impacts. Water, a vital resource for all forms of life, is particularly susceptible to industrial pollution. Among the most prevalent water pollutants are heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, and organic compounds, often released by industries including pharmaceuticals, personal care, agriculture, and electronics. Existing removal methods, such as filtration, adsorption, oxidation-reduction, high-voltage electric discharge, and incineration, have proven effective but come with significant environmental and economic costs. Consequently, there is high demand for cost-effective, easily producible, and reusable environmentally friendly alternatives. We propose hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDES) as a sustainable solution due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, low cost, and scalability. This research examines the efficacy of HDES systems, based on fatty acids and ionic liquids, in the liquid-liquid extraction of various organic pollutants from aqueous solutions.

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