The Importance of Crosslinking in Electrospun Membranes for Water Contaminant Removal

Traditional water purification systems often rely on synthetic materials that pose environmental risks due to their non-biodegradability and the potential release of harmful substances. To address these concerns, natural polymer-based membranes are being developed as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative for water treatment due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, and chemical versatility. These materials are particularly suitable for removing a wide range of contaminants due to their high selectivity and water permeability. Despite their benefits, challenges such as improving mechanical strength, durability, and resistance to fouling persist. Ongoing research continues to optimize the performance of electrospun membranes to meet modern water treatment demands. For this purpose, crosslinking via thermal initiators azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride (V50) and chemical crosslinking by glutaraldehyde (GA) vapor have been studied for methacrylated chitosan and alginate. In addition, biocharcoal has been introduced into the membranes to enhance their functional properties. The development of natural polymer-based membranes combined with biocharcoal presents a promising and scalable solution for sustainable water purification, playing a crucial role in reducing pollution and preserving vital water resources for future generations. In this study, we demonstrate that the crosslinking effect plays a key role in maintaining the stability of alginate-based membranes in an aqueous environment while enhancing their adsorption capacity for methylene blue dye, making them promising for water purification applications.