Cu-TCPP Metal–Organic Nanosheets Embedded Thin-Film Composite Membranes for Enhanced Cyanide Detection and Removal: A Multifunctional Approach to Water Treatment and Environmental Safety

• Published in: ACS applied materials & interfaces Vol. 17; no. 6; pp. 9563 - 9574
• Main Authors: Gandra, Upendar Reddy, Pandey, Ravi P., Palanikumar, L., Irfan, Ahamad, Magzoub, Mazin, Belmabkhout, Youssef, Hasan, Shadi W., Mohideen, M. Infas Haja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 02.02.2025
• Subjects: bioimaging; cell viability; cellulose acetate; cyanides; detection limit; environmental protection; filtration; Functional Inorganic Materials and Devices; nanosheets; permeability; toxicity; water treatment; World Health Organization; thin-film composite membranes; filtration; water treatment; cyanide detection; bioimaging agent; environmental risks; fluorescence enhancement; excellent lower detection limit (LOD)
• ISSN: 1944-8244; 1944-8252; 1944-8252
• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c18944

Cyanide is highly toxic, with widespread industrial use posing serious environmental risks. Effective materials for detecting and filtering cyanide from water are urgently needed. This study introduces a novel approach utilizing Cu-TCPP (TCPP = o-tetra­(4-carboxyphenyl)­porphine) metal–organic nanosheets (MONS) embedded in thin-film composite membranes, offering a multifunctional solution for cyanide detection and filtration. Ultrathin Cu-TCPP MONs were synthesized using a surfactant-assisted method featuring highly accessible metal centers that enhance cyanide interaction and detection. The membranes, developed by modifying cellulose acetate (CA) with Cu-TCPP MONs, demonstrated exceptional performance for cyanide removal. The 6% Cu-TCPP/CA membrane exhibited a 2.3-fold increase in pure water permeability and achieved a cyanide removal efficiency of 94.68%, significantly outperforming the pristine 0% Cu-TCPP/CA membrane (Pure Water Permeability (PWP) = 380.83 L m–2 h–1 bar–1; CN– removal = 5.01%). This is the first report describing the detection and removal of CN– in water using the membrane technique in literature. In addition to its removal efficiency, the Cu-TCPP MONs showed remarkable detection capabilities, with a calculated limit of detection of 1.76 × 10–7 M, surpassing World Health Organization (WHO) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety standards for cyanide levels in water. Additionally, Cu-TCPP MONs, a bioimaging agent with excellent cell viability, were deployed to detect CN– in MiaPaCa-2 cells, detecting concentrations as low as 0.1 ppm.