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Photocatalytic Affinity Membranes for The treatment of Dyes Contaminated Wastewater. Fabrication of the photocatalytic affinity membranes, using chemical and electrohydrodynamic processes; electrospinning, and electrospraying, for the efficient removal and degradation of the dyes that are present in the contaminated water
AlAbduljabbar, Fahad A.
AlAbduljabbar, Fahad A.
Publication Date
2022
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The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.
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Accepted for publication
Institution
University of Bradford
Department
Chemical Engineering Department Faculty of Engineering and Informatics
Awarded
2022
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Abstract
Electrospinning and electrospraying are electrohydrodynamic processes used for the
fabrication of nano- and microfiber membranes and the deposition of particles on the
membrane. Despite the numerous research papers found in the literature on electrospun
polymers and their application in water treatment, not much is reported on the
functionalization of electrospun nano- or microfibers and the deposition of ceramic
nanoparticles on their surface by electrospraying. The use of these two processes may
increase the efficiency of membranes in removing contaminants. In the present
research, the processes of electrospinning and electrospraying are described and the
factors affecting electrospinning are investigated. All parameters affecting the
production of smooth NFs and NPs are discussed. A literature review of the recent
advances in electrospinning and electrospray applications, as well as the application
of NFs membranes in water treatment, has been described. This research has been
designed based on the knowledge gaps identified in the literature. Detailed
experiments were carried out on the preparation of PAN_P and Cs_P NFs membranes
by electrospinning technique, the NFs membranes were then functionalized with
different functional groups. The membranes were used for removal (Chapter 3) and
degradation (Chapters 4 and 5) of dyes synthetic solutions. In the case of degradation,
the membranes were electrosprayed with TiO2 NPs. All membranes were
characterized by standard spectroscopic, microscopic, surface analytical, and thermal methods. Adsorption of MB, RB, and ST from a synthetic aqueous solution on the
membranes PAN and EA-g-PAN NFs decreased in the order PAN<EA-g-PAN. The
adsorption isotherm for the dyes fitted well with the models of Langmuir and
Freundlich. The values of the correlation coefficient (r2) for Langmuir varied from
0.940 to 0.995 and for Freundlich from 0.941 to 0.998. The slightly increased values of the correlation coefficient in the case of Freundlich indicate that condensation
(physical adsorption) of dyes on the NFs membranes also occurred in addition to the
formation of monolayers.
PAN_P NFs membranes prepared by electrospinning were functionalized with DETA
to produce a functionalized PAN _F NFs membrane. TiO2 NPs synthesized in the
laboratory were anchored to the surface of the PAN_F NFs membrane by electrospray
to prepare PAN _Coa. A second PAN_Co was prepared by embedding TiO2 NPs into
the PAN_P NFs by electrospinning. A similar strategy was also used for the Cs and
TiO2 NPs system. The PAN_Coa NFs membrane was used for the degradation of MO
while the Cs_Coa NFs membrane was used for the degradation of MB. The higher
photocatalytic activity of PAN _Coa NFs membranes (92%, 20 ppm, and 99.5%, 10 ppm) compared to PAN_Co NFs membranes (41.64%) was due to the smaller band
gap, high surface roughness, and large surface area. Also, the higher photocatalytic
activity of the Cs_Coa NFs membrane (89%) compared to TiO2/Cs composite (Cs_Co)
NFs membranes (40%) was due to a balance between the band gap, high surface
roughness, and lower surface area. BET showed that the isotherms and hysteresis were
similar for all NFs membranes, and they were classified as isotherm type IV and
hysteresis H3 (IUPAC), corresponding to mesopores and slit-shaped pores.
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Type
Thesis
Qualification name
PhD