Preparation and characterization of polypropylene nanofibrous membrane for the filtration of textile wastewater

Abstract

A fibrous membrane being prepared from nanofiber is of great demand for super‐efficient filtration of industrial wastewater. This study reported a highly efficient noanofibrous membrane made of superfine polypropylene (PP) nanofiber with an average diameter of only 228 nm and that had also demonstrated a direct influence of fiber diameter on its properties and performance for textile wastewater purification. The PP nanofibers were prepared with a varying content of PP/ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol (EVOH) blends from which the EVOH matrix was removed after electrospinning. Subsequently, the PP nanofibrous membranes were manufactured using the prepared PP nanofibers via a simple wet‐laid process. The fiber diameter turned out to be an important factor in the surface properties and pore characteristics of the PP nanofibrous membrane. The finer PP nanofiber constructed a compact fibrous mesh structure of the membrane leading to an optimum porosity, a high hydrophobicity, and a smaller mean pore size with a narrower distribution. The filtration performance of the nanofibrous membrane for dyeing wastewater has also evidenced the potentiality of the finer PP nanofiber. Moreover, in comparison with the commercial PP fibrous membrane, the developed PP membrane was found to be more promising.

Advances of polyolefins from fiber to nanofiber: fabrication and recent applications

“… SEM images of melt-electrospun polyolefin nanofibers from some recent investigations, a PP [ 113 ] permission with John Wiley & Sons, Inc., b PP [ 114 ] permission with John Wiley & Sons, Inc., c PE [ 110 ] permission with John Wiley & Sons, Inc., d PE [ 109 ], e PP/PVB blend [ 113 ] permission with John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and f PE/PVB blend [ 113 ], g PP from CAB/iPP [ 115 ], h PP [ 104 ], i PP from PP/EVOH film [ 104 ], j PP from PP/EVOH/PP film [ 104 ], k SAN/iPP [ 116 ] blend; l PP electrospun in vacuum [ 100 ] …”

“…In addition, Zhu et al [ 78 ] observed the outstanding separation performance of TiO 2 and dyeing wastewater with the excellent pure water flux of PP micro/nanofibrous membrane over the microporous membrane. Recently, Zakaria et al [ 114 ] developed a membrane from superfine PP nanofibers that is highly desired for efficient filtration of industrial wastewater. In that study, a PP nanofibrous membrane with an average fiber diameter of 228 nm was used, and it was shown that the fiber diameter has a direct effect on its properties and how well it cleans textile wastewater.…”

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Fig. 9 SEM image of ( a ) nanofibrous membrane [ 17 ], b PP nanofibrous membrane with higher magnification [ 114 ], c water and oil droplets on the surface of Cu 2 O/PP fibrous membrane and the demonstration of separation process [ 129 ]

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“…The main function of this technology is high filtering Fig. 9 SEM image of (a) nanofibrous membrane [17], b PP nanofibrous membrane with higher magnification [114], c water and oil droplets on the surface of Cu 2 O/PP fibrous membrane and the demonstration of separation process [129] Vol. :(0123456789) Discover Nano (2024) 19:24 | https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-023-03945-y Review efficiency, good optical transparency, low resistance to airflow, and lightweight than the existing fibrous filters [204].…”