Investigating the Electrocatalytic properties of ZnO-Based composite membrane for dye removal

A composite membrane based on zinc oxide (ZnO) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is proposed to enhance the dye removal efficiency of materials in wastewater treatment. Firstly, this study introduces the structure and properties of zinc oxide, which serve as the basis for fabricating the ZnO-PAN composite membrane. Secondly, ZnO powder is prepared via hydrothermal reaction and furnace cooling. Moreover, spinning solutions with different mass fractions are prepared by dissolving PAN powder in N, N-dimethylformamide, and PAN nanofiber films are obtained through heating and stirring. Subsequently, the composite membrane's electrochemical performance, electrocatalytic performance, and dye removal capability are thoroughly investigated through experiments to validate its potential for improving water purification. The study reveals significant findings: (1) The electrocatalytic properties of M-10 membranes vary at different voltages. Notably, at 30 V, the membrane achieves the highest removal rate, reaching 99%. (2) In the electrocatalytic stability test, the initial organic contents of Congo Red (CR), Rhodamine B (Rh B), Yellow Sunset (YS), Methyl Orange (MO), and Methylene Blue (MB) dye solutions are 28.53 mg/L, 14.89 mg/L, 9.62 mg/L, 11.47 mg/L, and 13.16 mg/L, respectively. After 10 h of electrocatalysis, the organic content in the filtrate of different dye solutions is reduced by 90%. (3) Within 1 h after a 5-minute electro-cleaning process, the composite membrane exhibits a remarkable recovery rate of 85% for permeate flux. These research findings demonstrate the excellent performance of the ZnO-PAN composite membrane in enhancing water purification, with the removal rate of various dyes by the composite membrane reaching up to 90%. (4) The composite membrane demonstrated excellent mechanical stability throughout the electrocatalytic process. The membrane modification substantially decreased concentration polarization, leading to a 16% reduction in the fouling rate during long-term use and significantly enhancing its anti-fouling capability. Consequently, this membrane presents strong potential for industrial wastewater treatment applications, offering a noteworthy advancement in dye removal efficiency. This study significantly advances dye removal efficiency and highlights the substantial potential of ZnO-PAN composite membranes in water treatment technology. These findings are expected to drive further advancements in wastewater treatment technology.