Synergistic Effects of Natural Biosurfactant and Metal Oxides Modification on PVDF Nanofiber Filters for Efficient Microplastic and Oil Removal

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: de Rosset, Aleksander, Torres-Mendieta, Rafael, Pasternak, Grzegorz, Yalcinkaya, Fatma
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866917893867831296
author de Rosset, Aleksander
Torres-Mendieta, Rafael
Pasternak, Grzegorz
Yalcinkaya, Fatma
author_facet de Rosset, Aleksander
Torres-Mendieta, Rafael
Pasternak, Grzegorz
Yalcinkaya, Fatma
contents The removal of microplastics and oil from oil-water emulsions presents significant challenges in membrane technology due to issues with low permeability, rejection rates, and membrane fouling. This study focuses on enhancing nanofibrous composite membranes to effectively separate microplastic contaminants (0.5 micrometer) and oil-water emulsions in wastewater. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymeric nanofibers were produced using a needle-free electrospinning technique and attached to a nonwoven surface through lamination. The membranes were modified with alkaline treatment, biosurfactant (BS), $TiO_2$, and CuO particles to prevent fouling and improve separation efficiency. The modified membranes demonstrated exceptional water permeability, with BS-modified membranes reaching above 9000 $Lm^{-2} h^{-1} bar^{-1}$ for microplastic separation. However, BS modifications led to reduced water permeability during oil-water emulsion treatment. $TiO_2$ and CuO further enhanced permeability and reduced fouling. The $TiO_2$-modified membranes exhibited superior performance in oil-water emulsion separation, maintaining high oil rejection rates (~95%) and antifouling properties. The maximum microplastic and oil rejection rates were of 99.99% and 95.30%, respectively. This study illustrates the successful modification of membrane surfaces to improve the separation of microplastics and oil-water emulsions, offering significant advancements in wastewater treatment technology.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_09529
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Synergistic Effects of Natural Biosurfactant and Metal Oxides Modification on PVDF Nanofiber Filters for Efficient Microplastic and Oil Removal
de Rosset, Aleksander
Torres-Mendieta, Rafael
Pasternak, Grzegorz
Yalcinkaya, Fatma
Chemical Physics
The removal of microplastics and oil from oil-water emulsions presents significant challenges in membrane technology due to issues with low permeability, rejection rates, and membrane fouling. This study focuses on enhancing nanofibrous composite membranes to effectively separate microplastic contaminants (0.5 micrometer) and oil-water emulsions in wastewater. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymeric nanofibers were produced using a needle-free electrospinning technique and attached to a nonwoven surface through lamination. The membranes were modified with alkaline treatment, biosurfactant (BS), $TiO_2$, and CuO particles to prevent fouling and improve separation efficiency. The modified membranes demonstrated exceptional water permeability, with BS-modified membranes reaching above 9000 $Lm^{-2} h^{-1} bar^{-1}$ for microplastic separation. However, BS modifications led to reduced water permeability during oil-water emulsion treatment. $TiO_2$ and CuO further enhanced permeability and reduced fouling. The $TiO_2$-modified membranes exhibited superior performance in oil-water emulsion separation, maintaining high oil rejection rates (~95%) and antifouling properties. The maximum microplastic and oil rejection rates were of 99.99% and 95.30%, respectively. This study illustrates the successful modification of membrane surfaces to improve the separation of microplastics and oil-water emulsions, offering significant advancements in wastewater treatment technology.
title Synergistic Effects of Natural Biosurfactant and Metal Oxides Modification on PVDF Nanofiber Filters for Efficient Microplastic and Oil Removal
topic Chemical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.09529