ADVANCED 3D-PRINTED MULTILAYER POROUS MEMBRANES FOR EFFECTIVE WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plays a crucial role in safeguarding public health and environmental sustainability by removing pollutants and contaminants from water sources. Membrane-based filtration technologies have emerged as effective and versatile tools for wastewater treatment, offering efficient removal of suspended solids, pathogens, and dissolved pollutants. In this study, we investigated the fabrication and characterization of three distinct membranes PI MB, ENM MB, and 3D MB for potential applications in wastewater treatment. Through a comprehensive analysis utilizing SEM, XRD, FTIR, antibacterial testing, and filtration experiments, we evaluated the structural, mechanical, and functional properties of these membranes. SEM analysis revealed distinct morphological differences, with PI MB exhibiting sponge-like pore structures, ENM MB displaying uniform nanofibers, and 3D MB showcasing a smoother surface with minimal porosity. XRD and FTIR analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of CuO nanoparticles into the membrane matrices, with antibacterial testing demonstrating the potent antimicrobial efficacy of CuO NPs. Filtration experiments further highlighted the membranes' effectiveness in removing contaminants from aqueous solutions, with the PI membrane exhibiting superior absorbance efficiency for methylene blue molecules. Overall, our findings underscore the potential of these membranes for wastewater treatment applications, offering promising solutions for mitigating microbial contamination and removing harmful pollutants from water sources. Further research efforts could focus on optimizing membrane fabrication processes and elucidating the underlying mechanisms governing membrane performance to meet the growing demands of wastewater treatment.