Super-hydrophobic Membrane based on PVDF/ZnO Composite Electrospun Nanofibers for wastewater & Oil spill treatment

Abstract

Industrial development releases plenty of oil/dyes wastes to water making unsafe environment to live in. This project aims to solve the problems associated with environmental pollution and discharge of industrial effluents to water bodies. This is very important in the global scenario as water is the basis of life. The problem of leaking oil and dyes in water bodies is one of the biggest problems that cause instability in the ecosystem since, it has a negative impact on marine creatures that live in these water bodies. In addition, this damage is transmitted to humans in an indirect way. The current project aims to develop ZnO/PVDF composite nanofibers using electrospun technique. The fabricated nanofibers was analyzed mainly for their morphology by using scanning electron microscope, x-ray diffraction, mechanical tensile strength, UV light spectroscope and oil separation experiments was mainly targeted for the proposed research and photocatalytic performance. Using this nanoparticles oil absorption was done for the water contaminated with oil and dye. The novelty of this particular proposal is defined by the nontoxic material fabrication method in the form of membrane, the fabricated membrane can be used for both absorbing oil & separating dyes from water. We have successfully synthesized the flower-like ZnO architectures by hydrothermal method. Developing oil and dye absorbing membrane using electrospinning techniques. It can absorb oil and dyes from water wastes, can be reused many times. The observed results suggest that the fabricated flexible electrospun nanofibers is suitable for the wastewater treatment. Our future recommendations to Test different types of dyes not mentioned in this research, mix two dyes together and check testing by the fabricated membrane, testing mixture of both oil and dye wastes together and development the membrane to be as sponge can hold the oil then collecting this oil and reuse it again.