Processing Guar Gum into polyester fabric based promising mixed matrix membrane for water treatment

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Developing advanced materials for water purification is crucial for addressing environmental pollution.
• Polyester fabrics offer a potential substrate for functional membranes.
• Incorporating nanomaterials and biopolymers can enhance membrane performance and sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare a reactive and mechano-chemically stable membrane for water purification.
• To investigate the self-healing properties and pollutant removal efficiency of the developed membrane.
• To optimize the water purification process using central composite design.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a polyester fabric support decorated with silver nanoparticles.
• Coating the support with a polyvinylidene fluoride matrix, guar gum (GG), and UiO-66 filler.
• Characterization using FE-SEM, XRD, FT-IR, water contact angle, and mechanical stability tests.
• Water purification experiments using N-cetyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and congo-red (CR) dye, with parameter optimization via central composite design.

Main Results:

• The prepared membrane exhibited enhanced hydrophilicity due to bio-GG and UiO-66.
• The membrane demonstrated effective removal of CTAB and CR dye from contaminated water.
• The bio-based GG/UiO-66 dispersion displayed excellent self-healing properties, crucial for recyclability.

Conclusions:

• A stable and hydrophilic membrane was successfully synthesized for water purification.
• The self-healing capability of the membrane contributes to its recyclability and sustainability.
• The developed membrane shows significant potential for efficient removal of organic pollutants from water.