Login Register Cart 0
Generic placeholder image

Micro and Nanosystems

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1876-4029
ISSN (Online): 1876-4037

Back
Journal Home About Journal Editorial Board Journal Insight Current Issue Volumes/Issues
Subscribe
Research Article

Electrospun Biodegradable Bi-Layered Microfiber Membranes for Aluminum Removal from Drinking Water

Author(s): Naznin Sultana*

Volume 13, Issue 1, 2021

Published on: 03 April, 2020

Page: [82 - 89] Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/1876402912999200403090335

Price: $65

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to eliminate metallic contaminants from drinking water by using electrospun bi-layered microfiber membranes.

Background: Fast industrialization triggers environmental pollution. Heavy metals like silver, lead and aluminum are the major contaminants that are extremely toxic and accumulate in biological tissues through the food chain and cause a health hazard. Electrospinning is a promising technique among other conventional techniques of removing these metals from drinking water. Electrospun membranes possess suitable properties for microfiltration purposes. In this study, to fabricate electrospun membranes, polycaprolactone (PCL) and zeolites were used as materials. PCL polymer is biocompatible and biodegradable, and zeolite is microporous, which is good for filtration or molecular sieving application.

Methods: Using the electrospinning technique, PCL, PCL/zeolite, PCL and PCL/zeolite bi-layered electrospun membranes were fabricated. The properties of the membranes were evaluated using different techniques. The performance of the membranes was tested by filtering Aluminum (Al) present in drinking water.

Results: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses confirmed the removal of Al using the membranes. ICP-OES results showed more than 90% of Al removal using PCL and PCL/zeolite electrospun membranes.

Conclusion: These membranes are non-toxic and biodegradable and have the potential to be used for microfiltration purposes.

Keywords: Polycaprolactone, zeolite, aluminum, electrospun membrane, filtration, bi-layered.

« Previous
Graphical Abstract

[1]
Chowdhury, S.; Jafar Mazumder, M.A.; Al-Akkas, O.; Husain, T. Heavy metals in drinking water: Occurrences, implications, and future needs in developing countries. Sci. Tot Environ., 2016, 569, 476-488.
[2]
Tchounwou, P.B.; Yedjou, C.G.; Patlolla, A.K.; Sutton, D.J. Molecular, clinical and environmental toxicology. Experientia Supplementum; Springer: Basel, 2012.
[3]
Jaishankar, M.; Tseten, T.; Anbalagan, N.; Mathew, B.B.; Beeregowda, K.N. Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip. Toxicol., 2014, 7(2), 60-72.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/intox-2014-0009 ]
[4]
Barabasz, W.; Albińska, D.; Jaśkowska, M. Ecotoxicology of aluminium. Pol. J. Environ. Stud., 2002, 11(3), 199.
[5]
Bhardwaj, N.; Kundu, S.C. Electrospinning: a fascinating fiber fabrication technique. Biotechnol. Adv., 2010, 28(3), 325-347.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2010.01.004 ]
[6]
Ahmed, F.E.; Lalia, B.S.; Hashaikeh, R. A review on electrospinning for membrane fabrication: Challenges and applications. Desalination, 2015, 356, 15-30.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2014.09.033]
[7]
Hernández-Navarro, N.; González-González, V.; Moreno-Cortez, I.E.; Garza-Navarro, M.A. Electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride nanofibers by bubble electrospinning technique. Mater. Lett., 2016, 167, 34-37.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2015.12.112]
[8]
Yang, R.; He, J.; Xu, L.; Yu, J. Bubble-electrospinning for fabricating nanofibers. Polymer (Guildf.), 2009, 50(24), 5846-5850.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2009.10.021]
[9]
Augustine, R.; Malik, H.N.; Singhal, D.K. Electrospun polycaprolactone/ZnO nanocomposite membranes as biomaterials with antibacterial and cell adhesion properties. J. Polym. Res., 2014, 21, 347.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10965-013-0347-6]
[10]
Erdem, E.; Karapinar, N.; Donat, R. The removal of heavy metal cations by natural zeolites. J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2004, 280(2), 309-314.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2004.08.028 PMID: 15533402]
[11]
Zhang, J.; He, Y.; Wang, Y.; Mao, J.; Cui, X. Synthesis of a self-supporting faujasite zeolite membrane using geopolymer gel for separation of alcohol/water mixture. Mater. Lett., 2014, 116, 167-170.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2013.11.008]
[12]
Margeta, K.; Logar, N.Z.; Siljeg, M.; Farkas, A. Natural zeolites in water treatment–how effective is their use., InTech: London, 2013, 5, 81..
[http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/50738]
[13]
Cui, J.; Zhang, X.; Liu, H.; Liu, S.; Yeung, K.L. Preparation and application of zeolite/ceramic microfiltration membranes for treatment of oil-contaminated water. J. Membr. Sci., 2008, 325(1), 420.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2008.08.015]
[14]
Sultana, N.; Daniels, D.E. Electrospun Bi-layered Composite Membrane for the Removal of Metallic Contaminants in Drinking Water. J. App. Memb. Sci. Technol., 2019, 23(3), 79-63.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.11113/amst.v23n3.171]
[15]
Liao, Y.; Loh, C-H.; Tian, M.; Wang, R.; Fane, A.G. Progress in electrospun polymeric nanofibrous membranes for water treatment: Fabrication, modification and applications. Prog. Polym. Sci., 2018, 77, 69-94.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2017.10.003]
[16]
Zheng, J.; He, A.; Li, J.; Xu, J.; Han, C.C. Studies on the controlled morphology and wettability of polystyrene surfaces by electrospinning or electrospraying. Polymer (Guildf.), 2006, 47(20), 7095.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2006.08.019]
[17]
Lee, E-J.; Kyoungjin, A.; He, T.; Woo, T.C.; Shon, H.K. Electrospun nanofiber membranes incorporating fluorosilane-coated TiO2 nanocomposite for direct contact membrane distillation. J. Membr. Sci., 2016, 520, 145.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2016.07.019]
[18]
Noble, R.D.; Agrawal, R. Separation research needs for the 21st Century. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2005, 44, 2887-2892.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ie0501475]
[19]
Makaremi, M.; Lim, C.X.; Pasbakhsh, P.; Lee, S.M.; Goh, K.L.; Chang, H. Electrospun functionalized polyacrylonitrile–chitosan Bi-layer membranes for water filtration applications. RSC Advances, 2016, 6, 53882-53893.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C6RA05942B]
[20]
Sencadas, V.; Correia, D.M.; Ribeiro, C.; Moreira, S.; Botelho, G.; Ribelles, J.G. Physical-chemical properties of cross-linked chitosan electrospun fiber mats. Polym. Test., 2012, 31, 1062-1069.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2012.07.010]
[21]
Govindasamy, K.; Fernandopulle, C. Pasbakhsh, Goh, P.K. Synthesis and characterization of electrospun chitosan membranes reinforced by halloysite nanotubes. J. Mech. Med. Biol., 2014, 14(04)141450058
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0219519414500584]

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
Article Metrics
7
1
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy