Improved filtration for dye removal using keratin-polyamide blend nanofibrous membranes

Dyes from industrial wastewaters represent one of the most hazardous pollutants as they are not effectively biodegradable. The present work is focused to study the novel properties of keratin-polyamide blend nanofibrous filtration membranes for treating wastewaters containing dye. Keratin protein was extracted from goat hair, a tannery waste through sulphitolysis process. The extracted keratin was blended with polyamide to prepare a nanofibrous membrane through the electrospinning process. The fabricated pristine polyamide and keratin-altered polyamide membranes were characterized and compared for their properties. Effects of solution pH, dye concentration, membrane flux, and membrane capacity have been examined. Very fine nanofibers and enhanced porosity drive the membrane to enhanced flux and higher filtration efficiencies. At pH 2, the dye removal efficiency of the blend membranes was 100, 99, 98, 90, and 83% for 100, 200, 250, 300, and 400 ppm concentrations of dye, respectively. The keratin-polyamide blend membrane exhibited better properties in all aspects. The results of this present investigation indicate that the presence of keratin in filtration membranes is promising for dye removal from the effluents.