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Nanofiber membranes were successfully synthesized from expanded polystyrene (EPS) waste with the addition of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) for water microfiltration using the electrospinning method. The EPS-based nanofiber membranes exhibited a smooth morphology and were uniform in size. The concentration of the EPS/PVP solution changed some of the...
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... typical amorphous structure of the nanofiber membranes may be caused by the rapid phase change from liquid to solid during the electrospinning process. 42 Figure 3 shows the FTIR spectra of the nanofiber membranes. The characteristic peaks of polystyrene were observed in the nanofiber membrane. ...
Citations
... As for EPS waste, it can be transformed into higher-value products, such as fibers or membranes, particularly for use in water treatment or remediation. 20 Fiber fabrication methods include physical, chemical, thermal, and electrostatic processes. 21 Among these, spinning techniques, including electrospinning and solution blow spinning (SBS), are commonly used for producing micro-and nanofibers. ...
Technological innovations can offer a multitude of benefits to modern society; however, they often fail to fully address the desired requirements for the specific applications, particularly when considering environmental impacts of solid waste. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) waste exemplifies this challenge, highlighting the urgent need for innovative and effective solutions to address the existing gaps in conventional technologies. In this regard, chemical dissolution methods using organic solvents emerge as a viable approach for polymer recovery and impurity removal. This study focused on the preparation of EPS nanofibers from polymeric solutions with concentrations of 10% (EPS_10) and 15% (w/w) (EPS_15) in chloroform, employing the solution blow spinning technique. The resulting nanofibers were then characterized morphologically through scanning electron microscopy and evaluated for their oil adsorption efficiency. Overall, the EPS_10 and EPS_15 nanofibers displayed average diameters of 149.7 and 330.5 nm, respectively, and achieved maximum adsorption capacities of 37.0 and 70.1 g/g for petroleum jelly, and 33.3 and 48.9 g/g for lubricating oil. These results emphasize the transformative potential of EPS nanofibers as high-performance sorbent materials, offering promising opportunities for their application in oil spill remediation and wastewater treatment. By addressing a critical environmental issue, this work contributes to developing a solution for managing solid waste and mitigating its ecological impact.
... Recently, single-use polystyrene (PS) waste has been identified as a valuable material for the circular economy [3][4][5]. For example, nanofiber membranes from expanded polystyrene (EPS) waste with different poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) concentrations were elaborated by electrospinning for their use in water filtration [6]. PVP introduction reduced EPS's high hydrophobicity on the membrane surface, changing their water contact angle from 140.46 • to 84.70 • and increasing pure water flux from 526.86 L m −2 h −1 to 1901.35 ...
... Finally, the membrane was cleaned with distilled water for 30 min, and the first permeate after cleaning was taken as water flux J w2 . This procedure allowed for the assessment of the flux recuperation ratio (FRR) and BSA flux recovery ratio (Rr), which were calculated using Equations (5) and (6) [27]. ...
The recovery and reuse of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) into high-value products is crucial for reducing environmental thermoplastics waste and promoting sustainable materials for various applications. In this study, asymmetric membranes obtained from sulfonated HIPS waste were used for salt and dye removals. The incorporation of sulfonic acid (-SO3H) groups into HIPS waste by direct chemical sulfonation with chlorosulfonic acid (CSA), at two different concentrations, was investigated to impart antifouling properties in membranes for water treatment. Asymmetric membranes from recycled HIPS, R-HIPS, R-HIPS-3, and R-HIPS-5 with 3 and 5% sulfonation degrees, respectively. Sulfonated HIPS shows a decrease in water contact angle (WCA) from 83.8° for recycled R-HIPS to 66.1° for R-HIPS-5, respectively. A WCA decrease leads to an increase in antifouling properties for R-HIPS-5, compared to non-sulfonated R-HIPS, which leads to a higher flux recovery ratio (FRR) and enhanced separation properties for sulfonated membranes. The HIPS-5 membrane exhibited the highest rejection rates for Reactive Black 5 dye (94%) and divalent salts (72% for MgSO4 and 67% for Na2SO4). The performance of the recycled HIPS asymmetric membranes is well correlated with porosity, water uptake, and the higher negative charge from the sulfonic acid groups present, which enhance the electrostatic repulsions of salts and dyes.
... 13 It has several merits such as easy processing, high resistance to water, high dielectric strength, low density, low thermal conductivity coefficient, and low cost. 11,14,15 These features promoted the application of PS in several fields including packaging, building isolation, automotive components, heat-insulating containers for food, appliances, craft materials, small accessories, decorations, and toys, in addition to manufacturing single-use products such as cups, dishes, and utensils. [12][13][14][16][17][18] Consequently, PS plastic waste is one of the amplest plastic wastes. ...
... 11,14,15 These features promoted the application of PS in several fields including packaging, building isolation, automotive components, heat-insulating containers for food, appliances, craft materials, small accessories, decorations, and toys, in addition to manufacturing single-use products such as cups, dishes, and utensils. [12][13][14][16][17][18] Consequently, PS plastic waste is one of the amplest plastic wastes. What's more, PS plastic waste is non-biodegradable and produces toxic gases upon incineration. ...
... Similarly, Munir et al., 19 applied a needleless electrospinning process to fabricate a multilayer air filter from EPS waste (food packaging). Arrosyid et al., 14 used EPS waste (electronic packaging) to fabricate nanofiber membranes by electrospinning method for water microfiltration. Garcia-Ivars et al., 12 used post-consumer high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) waste to develop membranes by non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method for water microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) processes. ...
Currently, plastic waste, limited water resources, and water contamination are challenges of universal concerns. Recycling plastic waste as a membrane for water/wastewater treatment is of great significance from the perspective of environmental protection and safe drinking water supply. In this study, we used for the first time the puffed polystyrene beads waste (PPSBW) as a basic material for the fabrication of an ultrafiltration membrane and Pluronic F127 (PF127) as a plasticizer and hydrophilizing agent. Different ratios of PF127 were added to the casting solution, and the characteristics of the blank PPSBW and PF127‐modified membranes (PPSBW‐PF127) were evaluated in detail. The addition of PF127 increased the turbidity and viscosity of the casting solution, decreased the contact angle (increased the hydrophilicity), decreased the pure water flux, and increased the rejection of humic acid. The PPSBW membrane with 3 wt.% of PF127 showed the highest antifouling properties, the highest cleaning efficiency, and kept a satisfactory BSA and pure water flux for 4 runs. Overall, PF127 improved the hydrophilicity, organic matter separation, and enhanced the antifouling properties of the PPSBW‐derived membrane.
Highlights
Renew flow: Repurposing plastic waste as a UF membrane was successfully achieved.
The PPSBW‐PF127 membrane was applied for wastewater treatment.
Mechanical properties showed reasonable response by adding Pluronic F127.
The PPSBW‐PF127 membrane demonstrated a significant rejection and permeability.
The PPSBW‐PF127 membrane showed the highest antifouling and cleaning properties.
... Electrospun membranes have gained prominence in water reclamation due to their large surface area, tunable properties, mechanical strength, up to 90% porosity, and interconnected pore structure, which enhance mass transfer and pollutant removal, boosting permeability and separation efficiency. Electrospun nanofibrous membranes (ENMs) integrate filtration and adsorption, achieving ion removal efficiencies of up to 99.99% [18]. Their adaptability for applications such as desalination, wastewater treatment, and bio-separation makes them suitable for large-scale water treatment. ...
The escalating incidence of chronic diseases and infections has driven an increase in the use of antibiotics, raising concerns regarding their disposal and presence in water sources. Antibiotic‐resistant genes (ARGs) can arise in bacteria and other microorganisms when antibiotics are present in the water. Human, plant, and animal physiological processes may be negatively impacted by extended exposure to these substances. Since MXenes are effective photocatalysts and adsorption agents, they have garnered a lot of attention in the wastewater treatment industry. While employing MXene alone typically yields inadequate results, it is advantageous to combine MXene with other materials to generate derivatives or composites. This comprehensive review meticulously examines MXene composites with various materials to enhance their photocatalytic prowess, unveiling composite systems capable of achieving an exceptional degradation efficiency of up to 99%, as exemplified by the UiO‐66/MXene composite and g‐C 3 N 4 /Ti 3 C 2 MXene/black phosphorus heterojunction. Additionally, this paper provides critical insights into the intrinsic characteristics, synthesis methodologies, and performance efficiencies for these composites, thereby serving as an invaluable resource for researchers and practitioners in the field.
... One particularly attractive approach is to combine the nanopowders (i.e., zeolite matrix) with nanofibers [19,20]. Advancements in materials science have led to the development of electrospun nanofibers, which are emerging as a leading technology in next-generation membrane filters [21][22][23][24][25]. Characterized by their ultrafine diameter, high surface-area-to-volume ratio, and customizable surface functionalities, electrospun nanofibers offer tailored solutions for specific filtration needs, including the removal of toxic dyes from wastewater [26][27][28]. ...
... In addition, there have been many other articles related to the use of PS materials for the electrospinning process. Using the electrospinning process, PS materials have been applied in the fabrication of high-efficiency filtration [22], superhydrophobic self-cleaning membranes [23], multiscale electrospun nanofiber membranes for air filtration [24], nanofiber membranes for efficient SO 2 capture [25], … Although these studies were deeply applied and therefore did not analyze the electrospinning process in detail, they were also a great motivation for carrying out this research. ...
Electrospinning represents a straightforward and adaptable technique for producing polymer-based nanofibers. However, many studies lack systematic approaches and fail to provide quantitative accuracy in describing electrospinning process parameters. This often leads to contradictory or inconsistent findings, highlighting the need for orthogonal methods to thoroughly investigate the qualitative and quantitative relationships between fiber characteristics and various processing and material parameters. In this study, polystyrene (PS) was employed using the mixture of N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a solvent, with its applied voltage, nozzle-to-collector distance, PS concentration, and flow rate parameters to be explored using an orthogonal array. Utilizing an L9 (34) orthogonal array design, experiments were conducted with varying electrospinning parameters. The results demonstrated that PS concentration had the greatest influence on the uniformity of fiber diameter, 63%. At the same time, too low PS concentration also led to fibers with irregular beads. This research contributes significantly to the production of uniform fibers with high utility in the field of pollution treatment and medical applications.
... In addition, the application of these monomer/polymer compounds in daily necessities has been posing a massive burden for their post-utilization disposal. The emergence of waste and its recycling potential has attracted attention to its application in membrane fabrication [42,[86][87][88][89]. The utilization of recycled waste for fabricating the membranes can help in reducing the environmental impact by 2× amount (i.e., eliminate the use of polymer for membrane fabrication and its associated environmental impact and mitigating the effect of waste on the environment via its utilization), thus helping in maintaining environmental sustainability. ...
Membrane technology has shown a promising role in combating water scarcity, a globally faced challenge. However, the disposal of end-of-life membrane modules is problematic as the current practices include incineration and landfills as their final fate. In addition, the increase in population and lifestyle advancement have significantly enhanced waste generation, thus overwhelming landfills and exacerbating environmental repercussions and resource scarcity. These practices are neither economically nor environmentally sustainable. Recycling membranes and utilizing recycled material for their manufacturing is seen as a potential approach to address the aforementioned challenges. Depending on physiochemical conditions, the end-of-life membrane could be reutilized for similar, upgraded, and downgraded operations, thus extending the membrane lifespan while mitigating the environmental impact that occurred due to their disposal and new membrane preparation for similar purposes. Likewise, using recycled waste such as polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, tire rubber, keratin, and cellulose and their derivates for fabricating the membranes can significantly enhance environmental sustainability. This study advocates for and supports the integration of sustainability concepts into membrane technology by presenting the research carried out in this area and rigorously assessing the achieved progress. The membranes’ recycling and their fabrication utilizing recycled waste materials are of special interest in this work. Furthermore, this study offers guidance for future research endeavors aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.
... Many polymers, such as polystyrene (Jiang et al. 2015;Arrosyid et al. 2023), polyvinylidene fluoride (Su et al. 2016;Mohammed et al. 2021), polybenzoxazine (Tang et al. 2013;Shang et al. 2022), cellulose acetate (Arslan et al. 2016;Jiang et al. 2020), polysulfone (Obaid et al. 2015;Karunanidhi et al. 2020), and polyacrylonitrile (Li et al. 2015;Malik et al. 2018) have been used to make electrospun fibers, for which excellent adsorption capacity has been reported. ...
Nanofibers have great potential to use in industrial wastewater treatment and ultra-pure water production compared to conventional commercial membranes. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of nylon 6 nanofiber membranes reinforced with an efficient adsorbent, zeolite (clinoptilolite) nanoparticles, for wastewater treatment in herbal essence industries. Nylon 6/zeolite nanofiber was synthesized using various zeolite contents (0, 1, 3, 5 wt.%) through the electrospinning method. The results indicated that nylon 6 nanofiber membranes exhibited significant differences in surface and mechanical properties due to the addition of zeolite nanoparticles, with an increase in air permeability, thickness, and diameter of zeolite-reinforced membranes. The membrane with 5 wt.% zeolite synthesized over 5 h of electrospinning which showed the highest specific surface area (45.7 m2 g−1) was selected for wastewater treatment. The results showed that the average removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, turbidity, ammonium, and phenol by the membrane were approximately 11%, 16%, 8%, 50%, 29%, and > 99%, respectively. Nylon 6 nanofiber membranes reinforced with zeolite nanoparticles showed high potential for use in wastewater treatment of herbal essence industries.
... To ensure the elimination of any remaining contaminants, the treated greywater is directed to a polystyrene filtration unit (F-101). Polystyrene (PS), which can be recycled, effectively remediates organic matter and dyes [36][37][38]. Finally, the filtered water goes to the disinfection tank (TK-105) where sodium hypochlorite (which releases chlorine) is added. ...
Wastewater can be segregated as greywater and blackwater separately. The greywater generated in malls, restaurants, and university buildings is generally dilute, while it will later become concentrated when it is merged into the main sewage collection line. It would be more economical and environmentally friendly if the greywater is treated locally using a modular wastewater treatment facility that produces treated water amenable for other uses such as irrigation or horticulture. The objective of this article is to study the economic feasibility and design a decentralized plant that produces fresh water from greywater generated at the Abu Dhabi university campus located in the United Arab Emirates. The proposed unit will consist of a compact design of filtration, chemical treatment and disinfection processes that would generate treated wastewater that can be used for horticulture in and around the local campus or can be stored and supplied for irrigation purposes. Several parameters such as total suspended solids, biological oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand are measured and monitored throughout the entire process and are regulated by appropriate operations performed for each unit. This study shows that decentralization of greywater treatment is not only economical but also essential for the management of fresh water, which in turn assures environmental sustainability. By using coagulation, flocculation and chlorination with a 30 mg/L alum dosage, 0.6 mg/L of polyacrylamide and 0.12 mg/L of sodium hypochlorite, respectively, greywater is treated to meet the water specification for reusing it for horticulture. Further, a modular plant with an investment of USD 8 M is proved to process 90,000 tons of greywater with a 34% discounted rate of return.
