Fabrication and characterization electrospun clinoptilolite filled polylactic acid composite membrane: purification of multiple impurities from water

Abstract

In this study, electrospun clinoptilolite (Clp)- polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposite membranes were produced and used for dyestuff (methylene blue, MB), oil (soybean oil), microplastic (Polyamide 66, PA66), and Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate (LAS) rejection from simulated gray water. The membrane's physical, chemical, thermal, morphological, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties were investigated regarding Clp incorporation. According to the characterization results, the empirical porosity of the membrane was found to be between 79 % and 83 %. The PLA membrane's water uptake capacity, surface hydrophilicity, and mechanical strength were improved with Clp incorporation. All membranes show antimicrobial effects against both gram-positive and negative bacteria. According to the filtration test results, MB separation was above 90 %. The highest oil rejection was found to be 87.84 % using 4 wt% Clp loaded membrane. All membranes rejected 100 % of microplastic. 66.6 % of LAS rejection was achieved with 3 wt% Clp loaded membrane. All separation and characterization results show that Clp-doped PLA membranes have the potential to be used as a filtration membrane that can simultaneously separate all impurities from water.