Effect of copper cation on the adsorption of nitrosamines in zeolite

Removal of carcinogens such as nitrosamines in environment is one of the potential applications of zeolites in life science, which involves the molecular reorganization and selective adsorption. To explore how copper species promote the adsorption of volatile nitrosamines in zeolite, NaY was chosen as the host to be modified with copper cation through ion exchange and impregnation. The instantaneous adsorption of N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) was used to assess the actual capture of nitrosamines by the modified zeolite in order to reveal the relation between the location of the copper cation and its promotion on the adsorption of nitrosamines. As the results revealed, incorporation of copper species in zeolite strengthened the electrostatic interaction between the nitrosamines and the adsorbent but occupies the space inside the channel to cause hindrance. According to the study, the promotion of the copper species overcame their negative effect and desorption of volatile nitrosamines from zeolite at 453 K was thus suppressed. Rather, the copper species dispersed in the channel of zeolite played the main role to improve adsorption of volatile nitrosamines.

Incorporation of copper species in zeolite strengthened electrostatic interaction between the nitrosamines and the adsorbent so that the adsorptive ability of the modified zeolite towards volatile nitrosamines was enhanced. The copper species dispersed in the channel of zeolite played the main role to improve adsorption of volatile nitrosamines.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide