Water filtration apparatus and a method of using thereof
A water filtration apparatus and a method of using thereof, wherein the water filtration apparatus includes a nanoparticle layer which comprises polypeptide-functionalized nanoparticles that are capable of absorbing heavy metals selected from the group consisting of Pb 2+ , As 5+ , Cd 2+ , Hg 2+ , Cr 6+ , Cu 2+ , and Zn 2+ , as well as organic materials. Various embodiments of the water filtration apparatus, the method of using the apparatus, and a method of producing the polypeptide-functionalized nanoparticles are also provided.
1. A water filtration apparatus, comprising:
a hollow filter cartridge having a water inlet and a water outlet;
a zeolite layer located inside said cartridge between the water inlet and the water outlet, which is configured to reduce a concentration of heavy metals in water;
a nanoparticle layer located between the zeolite layer and the water outlet, which is configured to remove heavy metals and organic compounds in water; and
an activated carbon layer located between the zeolite layer and the nanoparticle layer, which is configured to reduce a concentration of organic compounds in water,
wherein the nanoparticle layer comprises polypeptide-functionalized nanoparticles.
2. The water filtration apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide-functionalized nanoparticles have a structure of formula (I):
wherein NP is a nanoparticle,
L is a linker, and
PP is a polypeptide.
3. The water filtration apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the linker comprises a heterocycle.
4. The water filtration apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the linker comprises a triazole.
5. The water filtration apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the linker comprises a carbocycle.
6. The water filtration apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the linker is bound to the polypeptide via an amide bond.
7. The water filtration apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the nanoparticle is a silica nanoparticle.
8. The water filtration apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the linker is bound to the silica nanoparticle via a Si—O—Si bond.
9. The water filtration apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the polypeptide is a block copolymer comprising at least two polymers selected from the group consisting of an alkyl-functionalized glutamine polymer, a phenylalanine polymer, and a carboxylic acid-functionalized glutamine polymer.
10. The water filtration apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the polypeptide is a diblock copolymer comprising the alkyl-functionalized glutamine polymer and the phenylalanine polymer or the carboxylic acid-functionalized glutamine polymer.
11. The water filtration apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the alkyl-functionalized glutamine polymer is an octadecyl-functionalized glutamine polymer.
12. The water filtration apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the polypeptide is a diblock copolymer comprising the phenylalanine polymer and the carboxylic acid-functionalized glutamine polymer.
13. The water filtration apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the polypeptide is a triblock copolymer comprising the alkyl-functionalized glutamine polymer, the phenylalanine polymer, and the carboxylic acid-functionalized glutamine polymer.
14. The water filtration apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide-functionalized nanoparticles are spherical having a hydrodynamic radius in the range of 5-20 nm.
15. The water filtration apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cotton filter pad located in between the water inlet and the zeolite layer, which is configured to remove suspended solids and sediments.
16. A method of removing Pb 2+ , As 5+ , Cd 2+ , Hg 2+ , Cr 6+ , Cu 2+ , and/or Zn 2+ from a water source with the water filtration apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
passing the water source through the zeolite layer, the activated carbon layer, and the nanoparticle layer.
17. A method of producing a polypeptide-functionalized nanoparticle having a structure of formula (I):
wherein NP is a nanoparticle,
L is a linker comprising a triazole, and
PP is a polypeptide comprising at least two polymers selected from the group consisting of an alkyl-functionalized glutamine polymer, a phenylalanine polymer, and a carboxylic acid-functionalized glutamine polymer,
the method comprising:
treating the polypeptide with an azide-containing reagent to form an azido polypeptide compound;
functionalizing a surface of the nanoparticle with an alkynyl reagent to form an alkynyl nanoparticle; and
coupling the azido polypeptide compound to the alkynyl nanoparticle via an azide-alkyne cycloaddition to form the polypeptide-functionalized nanoparticle.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the alkyl-functionalized glutamine polymer is present in the polypeptide and is an octadecyl-functionalized glutamine polymer.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the nanoparticle is a silica nanoparticle.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the linker is bound to the silica nanoparticle via a Si—O—Si bond.