A comprehensive review on preparation, functionalization and recent applications of nanofiber membranes in wastewater treatment

Microplastics in water resources: Global pollution circle, possible technological solutions, legislations, and future horizon

Beneath the surface of our ecosystems, microplastics (MPs) silently loom as a significant threat. These minuscule pollutants, invisible to the naked eye, wreak havoc on living organisms and disrupt the delicate balance of our environment. As we delve into a trove of data and reports, a troubling narrative unfolds: MPs pose a grave risk to both health and food chains with their diverse compositions and chemical characteristics. Nevertheless, the peril extends further. MPs infiltrate the environment and intertwine with other pollutants. Worldwide, microplastic levels fluctuate dramatically, ranging from 0.001 to 140 particles.m-3 in water and 0.2 to 8766 particles.g-1 in sediment, painting a stark picture of pervasive pollution. Coastal and marine ecosystems bear the brunt, with each organism laden with thousands of microplastic particles. MPs possess a remarkable ability to absorb a plethora of contaminants, and their environmental behavior is influenced by factors such as molecular weight and pH. Reported adsorption capacities of MPs vary greatly, spanning from 0.001 to 12,700 μg·g-1. These distressing figures serve as a clarion call, demanding immediate action and heightened environmental consciousness. Legislation, innovation, and sustainable practices stand as indispensable defenses against this encroaching menace. Grasping the intricate interplay between microplastics and pollutants is paramount, guiding us toward effective mitigation strategies and preserving our health ecosystems.

Superhydrophobic microporous membrane based on modified microfibrillated cellulose framework for efficient oil-water separation

The preparation of stable and efficient cellulose-based oil/water separation membranes is of great significance in solving the problem of industrial oily wastewater. Herein, rod-like hydroxyapatite (HAP) modified microfibrillated celluloses (MFCs) are used to form the fibrous framework to produce a microporous PDMS-MFC-HAP membrane. The membrane shows good superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 151.6°. It exhibits the oil-water separation performance for various water-in-oil emulsions. The separation flux of the membrane is up to 3665.3 L·m-2·h-1·bar-1 under 0.5 bar pressure with a separation efficiency of over 99.6 %. The PDMS-MFC-HAP membrane could maintain a high separation efficiency of 98.6 % after 20 cycles. This study provides a simple and effective method to fabricate cellulose-based superhydrophobic membranes, which have a greater potential to achieve oil-water separation for oily wastewater treatment with high efficiency.

NIR-responsive electrospun nanofiber dressing promotes diabetic-infected wound healing with programmed combined temperature-coordinated photothermal therapy

BACKGROUND

Diabetic wounds present significant challenges, specifically in terms of bacterial infection and delayed healing. Therefore, it is crucial to address local bacterial issues and promote accelerated wound healing. In this investigation, we utilized electrospinning to fabricate microgel/nanofiber membranes encapsulating MXene-encapsulated microgels and chitosan/gelatin polymers.

RESULTS

The film dressing facilitates programmed photothermal therapy (PPT) and mild photothermal therapy (MPTT) under near-infrared (NIR), showcasing swift and extensive antibacterial and biofilm-disrupting capabilities. The PPT effect achieves prompt sterilization within 5 min at 52 °C and disperses mature biofilm within 10 min. Concurrently, by adjusting the NIR power to induce local mild heating (42 °C), the dressing stimulates fibroblast proliferation and migration, significantly enhancing vascularization. Moreover, in vivo experimentation successfully validates the film dressing, underscoring its immense potential in addressing the intricacies of diabetic wounds.

CONCLUSIONS

The MXene microgel-loaded nanofiber dressing employs temperature-coordinated photothermal therapy, effectively amalgamating the advantageous features of high-temperature sterilization and low-temperature promotion of wound healing. It exhibits rapid, broad-spectrum antibacterial and biofilm-disrupting capabilities, exceptional biocompatibility, and noteworthy effects on promoting cell proliferation and vascularization. These results affirm the efficacy of our nanofiber dressing, highlighting its significant potential in addressing the challenge of diabetic wounds struggling to heal due to infection.

Advances in Organosulfur-Based Polymers for Drug Delivery Systems

Organosulfur-based polymers have unique properties that make them useful for targeted and managed drug delivery, which can improve therapy while reducing side effects. This work aims to provide a brief review of the synthesis strategies, characterization techniques, and packages of organosulfur-based polymers in drug delivery. More importantly, this work discusses the characterization, biocompatibility, controlled release, nanotechnology, and targeted therapeutic aspects of these important structural units. This review provides not only a good comprehension of organosulfur-based polymers but also an insightful discussion of potential future prospectives in research. The discovery of novel organosulfur polymers and innovations is highly expected to be stimulated in order to synthesize polymer prototypes with increased functional accuracy, efficiency, and low cost for many industrial applications.

Development of Biological Coating from Novel Halophilic Exopolysaccharide Exerting Shelf-Life-Prolonging and Biocontrol Actions for Post-Harvest Applications

The literature presents the preserving effect of biological coatings developed from various microbial sources. However, the presented work exhibits its uniqueness in the utilization of halophilic exopolysaccharides as food coating material. Moreover, such extremophilic exopolysaccharides are more stable and economical production is possible. Consequently, the aim of the presented research was to develop a coating material from marine exopolysaccharide (EPS). The significant EPS producers having antagonistic attributes against selected phytopathogens were screened from different marine water and soil samples. TSIS01 isolate revealed the maximum antagonism well and EPS production was selected further and characterized as Bacillus tequilensis MS01 by 16S rRNA analysis. EPS production was optimized and deproteinized EPS was assessed for biophysical properties. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis revealed that EPS was a heteropolymer of glucose, galactose, mannose, and glucuronic acid. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV-visible spectra validated the presence of determined sugars. It showed high stability at a wide range of temperatures, pH and incubation time, ≈1.63 × 106 Da molecular weight, intermediate solubility index (48.2 ± 3.12%), low water holding capacity (12.4 ± 1.93%), and pseudoplastic rheologic shear-thinning comparable to xanthan gum. It revealed antimicrobial potential against human pathogens and antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory potential. The biocontrol assay of EPS against phytopathogens revealed the highest activity against Alternaria solani. The EPS-coated and control tomato fruits were treated with A. solani suspension to check the % disease incidence, which revealed a significant (p < 0.001) decline compared to uncoated controls. Moreover, it revealed shelf-life prolonging action on tomatoes comparable to xanthan gum and higher than chitosan. Consequently, the presented marine EPS was elucidated as a potent coating material to mitigate post-harvest losses.

Asymmetric Nanoporous Alumina Membranes for Nanofluidic Osmotic Energy Conversion

The potential of harnessing osmotic energy from the interaction between seawater and river water has been recognized as a promising, eco-friendly, renewable, and sustainable source of power. The reverse electrodialysis (RED) technology has gained significant interest for its ability to generate electricity by combining concentrated and diluted streams with different levels of salinity. Nanofluidic membranes with tailored ion transport dynamics enable efficient harvesting of renewable osmotic energy. In this regard, anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes with abundant nanochannels provide a cost-effective nanofluidic platform to obtain structures with a high density of ordered pores. AAO can be utilized in constructing asymmetric composite membranes with enhanced ion flux and selectivity to improve output power generation. In this review, we first present the fundamental structure and properties of AAO, followed by summarizing the fabrication techniques for asymmetric membranes using AAO and other nanostructured materials. Subsequently, we discuss the materials employed in constructing asymmetric structures incorporating AAO while emphasizing how material selection and design can resist and promote efficient energy conversion. Finally, we provide an outlook on future applications and address the challenges that need to be overcome for successful osmotic energy conversion.

Advances in the greener synthesis of chromopyrimidine derivatives by a multicomponent tandem oxidation process

A hydrophilic cobalt/copper heterogeneous bimetallic catalyst named mTEG-CS-Co/Cu-Schiff-base/IL was successfully synthesized from chitosan polysaccharide. The new catalyst was investigated and confirmed using various techniques including FT-IR, FE-SEM, EDX-EDS, XRD, TEM, TGA, AFM, NMR and ICP. The catalyst exhibited powerful catalyst activity for the tandem one pot oxidative chromopyrimidine reaction from benzyl alcohols under mild conditions, utilizing air as a clean source in a green protocol. The catalyst was compatible with a wide range of benzyl alcohols, and aldehydes formed in situ, and bis-aldehydes synthesized were condensed with urea/4‑hydroxycumarin to provide favorable products in good yields for all derivatives (14 new derivatives). The presence of tri-ethylene glycol and imidazolium moieties with hydrophilic properties on the mTEG-CS-Co/Cu-Schiff-base/IL nanohybrid provides dispersion of the nanohybrid particles in water, leading to higher catalytic performance. Furthermore, the reaction exhibited several other notable features, including low catalyst loading, the ability to be recycled for up to 6 stages, high atom economy, a simple work procedure, short reaction time, utilization of an environmentally friendly nanohybrid, and the replacement of volatile and organic solvents with water solvent.

Nanofibers of Glycyrrhizin/Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex: Enhanced Solubility Profile and Anti-inflammatory Effect of Glycyrrhizin

Despite having a wide range of therapeutic advantages, glycyrrhizin (GL) has few commercial applications due to its poor aqueous solubility. In this study, we combined the benefits of hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HP-βCD) supramolecular inclusion complexes and electrospun nanofibers to improve the solubility and therapeutic potential of GL. A molecular inclusion complex containing GL and HP-βCD was prepared by lyophilization at a 1:2 molar ratio. GL and hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes were also incorporated into hyaluronic acid (HA) nanofibers. Prepared NF was analyzed for physical, chemical, thermal, and pharmaceutical properties. Additionally, a rat model of carrageenan-induced hind paw edema and macrophage cell lines was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of GL-HP-βCD NF. The DSC and XRD analyses clearly showed the amorphous state of GL in nanofibers. In comparison to pure GL, GL-HP-βCD NF displayed improved release (46.6 ± 2.16% in 5 min) and dissolution profiles (water dissolvability ≤ 6 s). Phase solubility results showed a four-fold increase in GL solubility in GL-HP-βCD NF. In vitro experiments on cell lines showed that inflammatory markers like IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly lower in GL-HP-βCD NF compared to pure GL (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). According to in vivo results, the prepared nanofiber exhibits a better anti-inflammatory effect than pure GL (63.4% inhibition vs 53.7% inhibition). The findings presented here suggested that GL-HP-βCD NF could serve as a useful strategy for improving the therapeutic effects of GL.

Emulsion Nanofibres as a Composite for a Textile Touch Sensor

The combination of a nanofibre net and textile support represents an interesting composite capable of conferring various properties. Nanofibres are so thin that they can be easily damaged by human touch. In this study, we hypothesised that dyeing nanofibres with different colours from their textile supports would result in a colour difference upon their degradation, providing evidence that the composite has been touched and acting as a touch sensor. Two different methods were studied: directly inserting the dye into the polymer via electrospinning or creating a coloured liquid emulsion encapsulated by the polymer via electrospinning. Two black dyes were studied. Colour index (CI) Acid Black 194 was added directly to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the polymer. Sage oil was used for CI Solvent Black 3. The nanofibre nets were conveniently electrospun on a white polyester fabric; the fabrics were then characterised by colour coordinate analysis, FTIR, and SEM. The results showed that the dyed solution in oil was encapsulated, and the black colour could only be observed when rubbed, whereas the dyed polymer showed a black colour that was removed when rubbed. Therefore, the hypothesis was confirmed, and both samples demonstrated the desired touch sensor behaviour.

Enhancing Mechanical Properties and Flux of Nanofibre Membranes for Water Filtration

Nanofibres have gained attention for their highly porous structure, narrow pore size, and high specific surface area. One of the most efficient techniques for producing nanofibres is electrospinning. These fibres are used in various fields, including water filtration. Although they possess the ability to filter various components, the fibres generally have low mechanical strength, which can mitigate their performance over time. To address this, studies have focused on enhancing nanofibre membrane strength for water filtration. Previous analyses show that the mechanical properties of nanofibre mats can be improved through solvent vapour treatment, thermal treatment, and chemical crosslinking. These treatments promote interfibre bonding, leading to the improvement of mechanical strength. However, excessive treatment alters nanofibre behaviour. Excessive heat exposure reduces interfibre bonding, while too much solvent vapour decreases pore size and mechanical strength. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of these post-treatments is crucial. This review examines post-treatments aiming to increase the mechanical strength of nanofibre mats, discussing their advantages and disadvantages. Understanding these treatments is essential for optimising nanofibre membrane performance in water filtration and other applications.

Target-Responsive Metal-Organic Framework Nanosystem with Synergetic Sensitive Detection and Controllable Degradation against the Pesticide Triazophos in Contaminated Samples for Environment Assessment and Food Safety

Developing sensitive practical sensors for monitoring pesticide residues in edible foods and environmental samples is vital for food safety and environmental protection. Enzyme-inhibited biosensors offer effective alternative sensing strategies by using the inherent characteristics of pesticides. To further improve the degradation function of pesticide sensors, here, a target-triggered porphyrin metal-organic framework (MOF)-based nanosystem was designed with the synergetic bifunction of sensitive detection and controllable degradation of the triazophos pesticide. As a result of triazophos-inhibited glutathione consumption, the MOF collapsed and released the ligand porphyrin, leading to the recovery of fluorescence and photosensitization of the free porphyrin. The fluorescence recovery resulted in a sensitive detection limit of 0.6 ng mL^-1 for triazophos, which was also applied for the determination of contaminated samples and bioaccumulation in rice. Furthermore, the target-activated photocatalytic ability of porphyrin endowed the system with the ability to effectively generate reactive oxygen species for degrading triazophos with a removal rate of ∼85%, achieving eco-friendly synergetic detection and photodegradation in a controllable way. Therefore, the intelligent multifunctional MOF system demonstrated the potential of programmable systems for jointly controllable tracking and elimination of pesticide residues in the environment and opened a new avenue for designing a precise mechanism for stimulus-triggered degradation of pesticide residues accompanied by sensitive detection for environmental friendliness and food safety.

Sewage Water Treatment Using Chlorella Vulgaris Microalgae for Simultaneous Nutrient Separation and Biomass Production

Recovery of wastewater is essential for better management of water resources and can aid in reducing regional or seasonal water shortages. When algae were used to clean wastewater, amazing benefits were guaranteed, such as a decrease in the formation of dangerous solid sludge and the creation of valuable algal biomass through recycling of the nutrients in the wastewater. The trace elements nitrogen, phosphorus, and others that microalgae need for cell development are frequently present in contaminated wastewater. Hence, microalgal bioremediation is used in this study as an effective technique for the simultaneous treatment of COD, NH3-N, and orthophosphate from domestic wastewater and biomass production. Different concentrations of wastewaters were used. The maximum removals attained were: 84% of COD on the fifth day using the lowest mixing ratio of 50%, 95% of ammoniacal nitrogen, and 97% of phosphorus. The highest biomass production was achieved at day 12, except for the mixing ratio of 80% where the growth rate increased until day 14 at 400 mg/L.

Graphene-magnetite functionalized diatomite for efficient removal of organochlorine pesticides from aquatic environment

A unique composite based on graphene oxide, magnetite, and diatomite was synthetized by eco-friendly dry coating technique for the removal of four toxic organochlorine pesticides from agricultural drainage. The prepared composite was fully characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size analyzer, Vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), magnetic susceptibility meter, zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET) techniques. The characterization results confirmed the fabrication of a discrete core/shell structured composite possess both adsorptive and magnetic nature. The surface area, pore volume and pore diameter were 23.4 m²/g, 0.0026 cm³/g, and 4.5 nm, respectively. The amenability to use the fabricated composite as an adsorbent for some organochlorine pesticides was investigated under different conditions of concentration, time, pH, and temperature. Batch adsorption experiment showed that 97% removal efficiency was observed for all the studied pesticides with adsorption capacities of 7.78 mg/g after 2 h contact time and at any pH region. The adsorption was exothermic (ΔH < 0), spontaneous (ΔG° < 0), followed pseudo 2nd order kinetics (R² > 0.998), and fitted well to Langmuir's isotherm pattern for all pesticides (R² > 0.98). It is assumed that organochlorine pesticides were initially physisorbed by the graphene nanoplatelets via hydrophobic and π-π interactions along with chemisorption for forming monolayer. Moreover, the pesticides molecules could diffuse in the DMG composite micropores and be trapped in the structural defects. The regeneration of the composite exhibited over 90% removal efficiency even after seven cycles. The fabricated composite was examined to remove organochlorine from a real water sample, the obtained results suggest the possibility to use this composite as an economical, effective and sustainable adsorbent for the treatment of pesticides contaminating water.

Modified Electrospun Membranes Using Different Nanomaterials for Membrane Distillation

Obtaining fresh drinking water is a challenge directly related to the change in agricultural, industrial, and societal demands and pressure. Therefore, the sustainable treatment of saline water to get clean water is a major requirement for human survival. In this review, we have detailed the use of electrospun nanofiber-based membranes (ENMs) for water reclamation improvements with respect to physical and chemical modifications. Although membrane distillation (MD) has been considered a low-cost water reclamation process, especially with the availability of low-grade waste heat sources, significant improvements are still required in terms of preparing efficient membranes with enhanced water flux, anti-fouling, and anti-scaling characteristics. In particular, different types of nanomaterials have been explored as guest molecules for electrospinning with different polymers. Nanomaterials such as metallic organic frameworks (MOFs), zeolites, dioxides, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), etc., have opened unprecedented perspectives for the implementation of the MD process. The integration of nanofillers gives appropriate characteristics to the MD membranes by changing their chemical and physical properties, which significantly enhances energy efficiency without impacting the economic costs. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art status, the opportunities, open challenges, and pitfalls of the emerging field of modified ENMs using different nanomaterials for desalination applications.

Polymeric membranes functionalized with nanomaterials (MP@NMs): A review of advances in pesticide removal

The excessive contamination of drinking water sources by pesticides has a pernicious impact on human health and the environment since only 0.1% of pesticides is utilized effectively to control the and the rest is deposited in the environment. Filtration by polymeric membranes has become a promising technique to deal with this problem; however, the scientific community, in the need to find better pesticide retention results, has begun to meddle in the functionalization of polymeric membranes. Given the great variety of membrane, polymer, and nanomaterial synthesis methods present in the market, the possibilities of obtaining membranes that adjust to different variables and characteristics related to a certain pesticide are relatively extensive, so it is expected that this technology will represent one of the main pesticide removal strategies in the future. In this direction, this review focused on, - the main characteristics of the nanomaterials and their impact on pristine polymeric membranes; - the removal performance of functionalized membranes; and - the main mechanisms by which membranes can retain pesticides. Based on these insights, the functionalized polymeric membranes can be considered as a promising technology in the removal of pesticides since the removal performance of this technology against pesticide showed a significant increase. Obtaining membranes that adjust to different variables and characteristics related to a certain pesticide are relatively extensive, so it is expected that functionalized membrane technology will represent one of the main pesticide removal strategies in the future.

Self-Assembled Nanofibrous Membranes by Electrospinning as Efficient Dye Photocatalysts for Wastewater Treatment

Water pollution has become a leading problem due to industrial development and the resulting waste, which causes water contamination. Different materials and techniques have been developed to treat wastewater. Due to their self-assembly and photocatalytic behavior, membranes based on graphene oxide (GO) are ideal composite materials for wastewater treatment. We fabricated composite membranes from polylactic acid (PLA) and carboxylic methyl cellulose (CMC)/carboxyl-functionalized graphene oxide (GO-f-COOH) using the electrospinning technique and the thermal method. Then, a nanofibrous membrane (PLA/CMC/GO-f-COOH@Ag) was produced by loading with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) to study its photocatalytic behavior. These membranes were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in order to investigate the behavior of the fabricated membranes. The degradation kinetics studies were conducted using mathematical models, such as the pseudo first- and second-order models, by calculating their regression coefficients (R²). These membranes exhibited exceptional dye degradation kinetics. The R² values for pseudo first order were PCGC = 0.983581, PCGC@Ag = 0.992917, and the R² values for pseudo second order were PCGC = 0.978329, PCGC@Ag = 0.989839 for methylene blue. The degradation kinetics of Rh-B showed R² values of PCGC = 0.973594, PCGC@Ag = 0.989832 for pseudo first order and R² values of PCGC = 0.994392, PCGC@Ag = 0.998738 for pseudo second order. The fabricated nanofibrous membranes exhibited a strong π-π electrostatic interaction, thus providing a large surface area, and demonstrated efficient photocatalytic behavior for treating organic dyes present in wastewater. The fabricated PLA/CMC/GO-f-COOH@Ag membrane presents exceptional photocatalytic properties for the catalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. Hence, the fabricated nanofibrous membrane would be an eco-friendly system for wastewater treatment under catalytic reaction.

High-performance multifunctional electrospun fibrous air filter for personal protection: A review

With the increasingly serious air pollution and the rampant coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19), preparing high–performance air filter to achieve the effective personal protection has become a research hotspot. Electrospun nanofibrous membrane has become the first choice of air filter because of its small diameter, high specific surface area and porosity. However, improving the filtration performance of the filter only cannot meet the personal needs: it should be given more functions based on high filtration performance to maximize the personal benefits, called, multifunctional, which can also be easily realized by electrospinning technology, and has attracted much attention. In this review, the filtration mechanism of high–performance electrospun air filter is innovatively summarized from the perspective of membrane. On this basis, the specific preparation process, advantages and disadvantages are analyzed in detail. Furthermore, other functions required for achieving maximum personal protection benefits are introduced specifically, and the existing high–performance electrospun air filter with multiple functions are summarized. Finally, the challenges, limitations, and development trends of manufacturing high–performance air filter with multiple functions for personal protection are presented.

Recent Advances in Responsive Membrane Functionalization Approaches and Applications

In recent years, significant advances have been made in the field of functionalized membranes. With the functionalization using various materials, such as polymers and enzymes, membranes can exhibit property changes in response to an environmental stimulation, such as heat, light, ionic strength, or pH. The resulting responsive nature allows for an increased breadth of membrane uses, due to the developed functionalization properties, such as smart-gating filtration for size-selective water contaminant removal, self-cleaning antifouling surfaces, increased scalability options, and highly sensitive molecular detection. In this review, new advances in both fabrication and applications of functionalized membranes are reported and summarized, including temperature-responsive, pH-responsive, light-responsive, enzyme-functionalized, and two-dimensional material-functionalized membranes. Specific emphasis was given to the most recent technological improvements, current limitations, advances in characterization techniques, and future directions for the field of functionalized membranes.

Mycosynthesis of Hematite (α-Fe2O3) Nanoparticles Using Aspergillus niger and Their Antimicrobial and Photocatalytic Activities

Nanoparticles (NPs) and nanomaterials (NMs) are now widely used in a variety of applications, including medicine, solar energy, drug delivery, water treatment, and pollution detection. Hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (Hem-NPs) were manufactured in this work by utilizing a cost-effective and ecofriendly approach that included a biomass filtrate of A. niger AH1 as a bio-reducer. The structural and optical properties of Hem-NPs were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and UV-visible and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. The results revealed that all of the studied parameters, as well as their interactions, had a significant impact on the crystallite size. The average diameter size of the biosynthesized Hem-NPs ranged between 60 and 80 nm. The antimicrobial and photocatalytic activities of Hem-NPs were investigated. The antimicrobial results of Hem-NPs revealed that Hem-NPs exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli, B. subtilis, and S. mutans with MICs of 125, 31.25, and 15.62 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, Hem-NPs exhibited antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. fumigatus, where the MICs were 2000 and 62.5 µg/mL, respectively. The efficiency of biosynthesized Hem-NPs was determined for the rapid biodegradation of crystal violet (CV) dye, reaching up to 97 percent after 150 min. Furthermore, Hem-NPs were successfully used more than once for biodegradation and that was regarded as its efficacy. In conclusion, Hem-NPs were successfully biosynthesized using A. niger AH1 and demonstrated both antimicrobial activity and photocatalytic activity against CV dye.

Preparation and Characterization of an Electrospun Whey Protein/Polycaprolactone Nanofiber Membrane for Chromium Removal from Water

Chromium pollution represents a worldwide concern due to its high toxicity and bioaccumulation in organisms and ecosystems. An interesting material to remove metal ions from water is a whey-protein-based material elaborated by electrospinning, which is an emerging method to produce adsorbent membranes with diverse applications. The aim of this study was to prepare an adsorbent membrane of whey protein isolate (WPI) and polycaprolactone (PCL) by electrospinning to remove chromium ions from water. The adsorbent membrane was synthesized by a central composed design denaturing WPI using 2-Mercaptoethanol and mixing it with PCL to produce electrospun nanofibers. The adsorbent membrane was characterized by denaturation, Scanning Electron Microscope, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Contact Angle, Thermogravimetric Analysis, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometry. The adsorption properties of this membrane were assessed in the removal of chromium. The removal performance of the membrane was enhanced by an increase in temperature showing an endothermic adsorption process. The adsorption process of chromium ions onto the nanofiber membrane followed the Sips adsorption isotherm, while the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second kinetics where the maximum adsorption capacity was 31.0 mg/g at 30 °C and pH 2. This work provides a novel method to fabricate a hybrid membrane with amyloid-type fibrils of WPI and PCL, which is a promising adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions from water.

Novel fabricated low-cost hybrid polyacrylonitrile/polyvinylpyrrolidone coated polyurethane foam (PAN/PVP@PUF) membrane for the decolorization of cationic and anionic dyes

Dyes are recalcitrait organic pollutants threatening the aquatic environment and human health. In the present study, a novel low-cost hybrid membrane was fabricated by coating polyurethane foam (PUF) with polyacrylonitrile/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PAN/PVP) via phase inversion technique from casting solutions consisting of PAN and PVP with Dimethyl formamide (DMF) and applied for removal of cationic (Methylene Blue (MB)) and anionic (Methyl Orange (MO)) dyes from aqueous solutions. The as-prepared membrane was first characterized by Scan Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS), etc. Then, batch experiments were conducted to optimize the adsorption conditions, including contact time, adsorbent dose, dyes concentration, and pH. The dye removal results fitted with pseudo first and second-order kinetics; Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms' models. The maximum dye decolorization was approximately 97% and 95% within 60 and 120 min using 0.5 and 1 g of the fabricated composite for MB and MO, respectively. The kinetic studies showed rapid sorption dynamics following a second-order kinetic model. In addition, dye adsorption equilibrium data fitted well to the Freundlich isotherm with monolayer maximum adsorption capacity of 6.356 and 3.321 mg/g for MO and MB dye, respectively. Thus, the novel hybrid membrane is promising as a cheap and efficient adsorbent for the removal of both cationic and anionic dyes from wastewater. The current study demonstrated a new avenue to achieve efficient management of dyes in aquatic environments.

Review of the Recent Advances in Electrospun Nanofibers Applications in Water Purification

Recently, nanofibers have come to be considered one of the sustainable routes with enormous applicability in different fields, such as wastewater treatment. Electrospun nanofibers can be fabricated from various materials, such as synthetic and natural polymers, and contribute to the synthesis of novel nanomaterials and nanocomposites. Therefore, they have promising properties, such as an interconnected porous structure, light weight, high porosity, and large surface area, and are easily modified with other polymeric materials or nanomaterials to enhance their suitability for specific applications. As such, this review surveys recent progress made in the use of electrospun nanofibers to purify polluted water, wherein the distinctive characteristics of this type of nanofiber are essential when using them to remove organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater, as well as for oil/water (O/W) separation.

Recent Progress and Potential Biomedical Applications of Electrospun Nanofibers in Regeneration of Tissues and Organs

Electrospun techniques are promising and flexible technologies to fabricate ultrafine fiber/nanofiber materials from diverse materials with unique characteristics under optimum conditions. These fabricated fibers/nanofibers via electrospinning can be easily assembled into several shapes of three-dimensional (3D) structures and can be combined with other nanomaterials. Therefore, electrospun nanofibers, with their structural and functional advantages, have gained considerable attention from scientific communities as suitable candidates in biomedical fields, such as the regeneration of tissues and organs, where they can mimic the network structure of collagen fiber in its natural extracellular matrix(es). Due to these special features, electrospinning has been revolutionized as a successful technique to fabricate such nanomaterials from polymer media. Therefore, this review reports on recent progress in electrospun nanofibers and their applications in various biomedical fields, such as bone cell proliferation, nerve regeneration, and vascular tissue, and skin tissue, engineering. The functionalization of the fabricated electrospun nanofibers with different materials furnishes them with promising properties to enhance their employment in various fields of biomedical applications. Finally, we highlight the challenges and outlooks to improve and enhance the application of electrospun nanofibers in these applications.

The Potential for the Direct and Alternating Current-Driven Electrospinning of Polyamides

The paper provides a description of the potential for the direct current- and alternating current-driven electrospinning of various linear aliphatic polyamides (PA). Sets with increasing concentrations of selected PAs were dissolved in a mixture of formic acid and dichloromethane at a weight ratio of 1:1 and spun using a bar electrode applying direct and alternating high voltage. The solubility and spinnability of the polyamides were investigated and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were acquired of the resulting nanofiber layers. The various defects of the spun fibers and their diameters were detected and subsequently measured. Moreover, the dynamic viscosity and conductivity were also subjected to detailed investigation. The most suitable concentrations for each of the PAs were determined according to previous findings, and the solutions were spun using a NanospiderTM device at the larger scale. The fiber diameters of these samples were also measured. Finally, the surface energy of the fiber layers produced by the NanospiderTM device was measured aimed at selecting a suitable PA for a particular application.

Effect of Solution Properties in the Development of Cellulose Derivative Nanostructures Processed via Electrospinning

In the last few years, electrospinning has proved to be one of the best methods for obtaining membranes of a micro and nanometric fiber size. This method mainly consists in the spinning of a polymeric or biopolymeric solution in solvents, promoted by the difference in the electric field between the needle and collector, which is finally deposited as a conjunction of randomly oriented fibers. The present work focuses on using cellulose derivatives (namely cellulose acetate and ethylcellulose), based on the revaluation of these byproducts and waste products of biorefinery, to produce nanostructured nanofiber through electrospinning with the objective of establishing a relation between the initial solutions and the nanostructures obtained. In this sense, a complete characterization of the biopolymeric solutions (physicochemical and rheological properties) and the resulting nanostructures (microstructural and thermal properties) was carried out. Therefore, solutions with different concentrations (5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) of the two cellulose derivatives and different solvents with several proportions between them were used to establish their influence on the properties of the resulting nanostructures. The results show that the solutions with 10 wt% in acetic acid/H2O and 15 wt% in acetone/N,N-dimethylformamide of cellulose acetate and 5 wt% of ethylcellulose in acetone/N,N-dimethylformamide, exhibited the best properties, both in the solution and nanostructure state.

Sustainable Applications of Nanofibers in Agriculture and Water Treatment: A Review

Natural fibers are an important source for producing polymers, which are highly applicable in their nanoform and could be used in very broad fields such as filtration for water/wastewater treatment, biomedicine, food packaging, harvesting, and storage of energy due to their high specific surface area. These natural nanofibers could be mainly produced through plants, animals, and minerals, as well as produced from agricultural wastes. For strengthening these natural fibers, they may reinforce with some substances such as nanomaterials. Natural or biofiber-reinforced bio-composites and nano–bio-composites are considered better than conventional composites. The sustainable application of nanofibers in agricultural sectors is a promising approach and may involve plant protection and its growth through encapsulating many bio-active molecules or agrochemicals (i.e., pesticides, phytohormones, and fertilizers) for smart delivery at the targeted sites. The food industry and processing also are very important applicable fields of nanofibers, particularly food packaging, which may include using nanofibers for active–intelligent food packaging, and food freshness indicators. The removal of pollutants from soil, water, and air is an urgent field for nanofibers due to their high efficiency. Many new approaches or applicable agro-fields for nanofibers are expected in the future, such as using nanofibers as the indicators for CO and NH3. The role of nanofibers in the global fighting against COVID-19 may represent a crucial solution, particularly in producing face masks.