Removal of Pollutants Using Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes

LAURA RIBBA; JONATHAN CIMADORO; NORMA D'ACCORSO; SILVIA GOYANES

Industrial Applications of Renewable Biomass Products, Past, Present and Future

Springer

Año: 2017;

Climate change, population growth and rapid worldwide industrialization, is causing an uncontrollable increase in air and water pollution. Different factors, such as increasing water demand, stringent health guidelines and emerging contaminants, cause traditional water and air treatment technologies remain ineffective. In this context nanotechnology could provide novel cost and energy efficient materials. In particular membranes obtained through the electrospinning technique are a desirable candidate thanks to its extraordinary permeability and selectivity due to its high porosity and surface area, respectively. Several polymers have been employed in the development of electrospun meshes with different characteristics. Nanofibrous membranes based on polymers from the biomass have been proposed as next-generation environmental-friendly filter media. Among the most used polymers we can find cellulose acetate, chitosan and poly-(lactic acid). The aim of the present study is to review the possible applications of the nanofibers mats for the removal of pollutants from water and air, including viruses, inorganic solutes, heavy metals, metal ions, complex organic compounds, natural organic matter, nitrate, and other pollutants.