Blow-Spun Nanofibrous Membrane for Simultaneous Treatment of Emulsified Oil/Water Mixtures, Dyes, and Bacteria

Abstract

Membrane separation is of great significance due to its unique performance in treating wastewater. However, the simultaneous treatment of oily emulsions and other complex pollutants in water remains challenging. Herein, we have proposed a simple strategy to prepare a multifunctional titanium dioxide/silver nanoparticles/polyacrylonitrile (TiO 2 /AgNPs/PAN) nanofibrous membrane. The experimental results showed that the combination of the hierarchical structure composed of PAN nanofibers and Ag/TiO 2 nanoprotrusions contributed to the superhydrophilicity and superoleophobicity (UOCA = 153.3 ± 2.0°). Further, the nanofibrous membrane exhibited a rapid gravity-driven permeate flux (>1829.37 ± 83.51 L m −2 h −1 ) and an ultrahigh separation efficiency (>99.9%) for the surfactant-stabilized oil/water emulsions. Moreover, due to the synergistic effect between the PAN fibers and TiO 2 /Ag heterojunction, Rhodamine B dye in water can be removed quickly and efficiently (up to 97.67% in 90 min). More importantly, the obtained nanofibrous membrane exhibited ultrahigh stability in different harsh environments. The design of superoleophobic nanofiber membrane with a high separation efficiency and high photocatalytic activity has great potential for practical applications in the purification of oily wastewater.

Waste for Waste: Interface-Intensified Durable Superhydrophilic–Superoleophobic Collagen Fiber Membrane for Efficient Separation of Cationic Surfactant-Stabilized Oil-in-Water Emulsions

“…The biological toxicity of CFM–PMDA–TiO 2 was evaluated according to the methods reported by Lu et al . The zebrafish adults (Danio rerio, mean length ≈2 to 3 cm) were obtained from a commercial supplier as the model organism to assess the toxicity of CFM–PMDA–TiO 2 .…”

“…Biosafety. The biological toxicity of CFM−PMDA−TiO 2 was evaluated according to the methods reported by Lu et al 19 The zebrafish adults (Danio rerio, mean length ≈2 to 3 cm) were obtained from a commercial supplier as the model organism to assess the toxicity of CFM−PMDA−TiO 2 . Zebrafish were domesticated under laboratory conditions (a temperature of 26 ± 1 °C and a photoperiod of 12:12 h (L/D)) for 7 days before the experiment, and mortality was kept below 5%.…”

Ultralight, super-compression, and hydrophobic nanofibrous aerogels from cellulose acetate/polyethylene oxide nanofibers for efficient and recyclable oil absorption

“…The above results indicated that the hydrophobic modification not only imparted resilience to the aerogel, but realized the transformation of the aerogel from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. 50,51 Because of the low surface energy and high roughness of the polysiloxanecoating, the surface of CPMA cannot be wetted by water, creating voids between the water drop and the aerogel. This surface structure made the water drop to reach the Cassie-Baxter state and thereby exhibited a high WCA.…”

Tree-Inspired Aerogel with a Radial and Centrosymmetric Structure for Efficient Solar-Powered Water Purification

“…The material surfaces are easily corroded by microorganisms and contaminated by oily pollutants. To address these issues, a significant amount of work has been done, such as the construction of ZIF-8/GO/PAN nanofiber membranes with excellent antibacterial properties by Lu et al, the preparation of TiO 2 -coated PP membranes by Li et al to impart excellent oil resistance, etc. , Long-term stability in complex environments is crucial for practical seawater desalination applications using solar evaporators. This is because solar steam generation devices are susceptible to contamination by biological fouling, oily pollutants, and other environmental factors in the ocean, which can clog their water transport channels and corrode their internal structures .…”