Modified polyacrylamide nanofiber membrane for efficient nitrate removal from landfill leachate

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Landfill leachate poses environmental risks due to high nitrate concentrations.
• Effective and sustainable methods for nitrate removal are crucial for wastewater treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize polyacrylamide (PAM) nanofibers modified with silver nanoparticles (Ag) synthesized via green tea (GT) extract.
• To evaluate the efficiency of the fabricated PAM/Ag@GT membrane for nitrate removal from landfill leachate.
• To optimize the nitrate removal process using a design of experiments (DOE) approach.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Ag nanoparticles using GT extract.
• Fabrication of PAM/Ag@GT nanofibers via electrospinning.
• Characterization using SEM, FESEM, and FTIR.
• Evaluation of membrane properties: hydrophilicity, water flux, fouling resistance, tensile strength.
• Optimization of nitrate removal using DOE (flow rate, pH, pressure).

Main Results:

• The PAM/Ag@GT membrane exhibited reduced fiber diameter, increased porosity (58.6%), improved hydrophilicity, and decreased turbidity (3 NTU).
• Nitrate removal efficiency increased significantly from 32% to 73.25%.
• Optimal conditions achieved high leachate flux (1850 L/m²·h) and flux recovery (84.45%).
• Enhanced mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation) were observed.

Conclusions:

• The PAM/Ag@GT membrane demonstrates superior performance for nitrate removal from landfill leachate.
• The developed nanomaterial offers a promising, sustainable solution for wastewater treatment.
• The study highlights the potential of green synthesis methods in environmental applications.