Abstract
Aerogels are highly porous, low-density materials that exhibit excellent insulating and filtration properties. This project engineered a highly absorptive chitosan-based aerogel incorporating sodium bentonite and activated carbon derived from waste biomass. By incorporating activated carbon into the aerogel structure, the aim was to improve filtration properties by reducing clogging that occurs in traditional filters. This project prioritizes sustainability by tackling the abundance of bio-waste. The activated carbon in this material is derived from remains of the wildfires that raged through Kelowna, BC, in 2023. Sodium bentonite was incorporated into the structure to enhance adsorption to specifically target copper(II), a prevalent contaminant in the Thompson-Okanagan region. Porosimetry and density measurements were conducted to characterize the pore-size distribution and surface area of aerogels with varying amounts of bentonite and activated carbon. By comparing aerogels with additives, one with bentonite and the other with activated carbon, to an aerogel with a chitosan base, it was observed that the additives altered material properties. The aerogel was intended to serve as a standard water filter, functioning as a homogeneous material that combines ion exchange and media entrapment, and is made from waste materials and natural polysaccharides such as chitosan.