Optimized Ultrafiltration Membrane Based on Acrylic Fiber Waste for Organic Compounds Removal from Wastewater

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Growing concerns about water pollution from organic contaminants.
• Need for sustainable and cost-effective water purification technologies.
• Limited utilization of industrial waste materials like acrylic fiber.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and optimize a tight ultrafiltration (UF) membrane using recycled acrylic fiber (polyacrylonitrile, PAN) waste.
• To evaluate the performance of these membranes in removing organic pollutants.
• To assess the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of the developed membrane technology.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of UF membranes with varying concentrations of acrylic fiber waste.
• Characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), porosity, contact angle, and mechanical strength tests.
• Performance evaluation for pure water flux, flux recovery ratio (FRR), and removal of humic acid (HA) and paracetamol.
• Assessment of chemical stability under acidic and basic conditions.

Main Results:

• Membrane M4 (22.5 wt.% acrylic fiber waste) exhibited optimal performance with good mechanical integrity and hydrophilicity (contact angle ~52°, porosity 27%).
• M4 achieved a high pure water flux of 65 LMH and an FRR above 80%.
• Effective removal of humic acid and paracetamol was demonstrated, along with strong chemical stability.

Conclusions:

• Recycled acrylic fiber waste is a viable and sustainable source for producing high-performance tight UF membranes.
• The developed UF membrane offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution for water purification and removal of pharmaceutical contaminants.
• This research contributes to waste valorization and addresses critical water quality challenges.