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Nanofibre Filter for Dye-Contaminated Wastewater Treatment
Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, develop a sustainable nanofibre filter to treat dye-contaminated wastewater. The filter integrates zinc oxide nanoparticles with biodegradable nanofibres and uses machine learning to predict dye-decolourisation performance.
Nanofibre Filter for Dye-Contaminated Wastewater Treatment (PLA-ZnO Membrane):
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Developed by | The nanofibre filter is developed by the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali. |
| Institutional status | INST, Mohali, is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). |
| Filter composition | The filter combines zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with biodegradable nanofibres. |
| Target contaminants | The material addresses persistent organic dyes discharged by industries, particularly textiles. |
| Problem with target dyes | The persistent organic dyes can be toxic, chemically stable, and resistant to natural degradation. |
| Limitation of conventional treatment | Conventional treatments such as adsorption, sedimentation, and flocculation can separate pollutants without necessarily destroying them. |
| Alternative process noted | Photocatalysis provides for pollutant degradation under relatively mild conditions. |
| Challenges in conventional photocatalysis systems | Conventional systems face difficulties in recovering nanoparticle catalysts, separating them from treated water, and maintaining efficient contact with pollutants. |
| Performance limitations cited | Performance can be limited by light availability and electron–hole recombination. |
| Working mechanism | The system uses light and mechanical vibrations to enhance pollutant degradation, and machine learning helps predict dye-decolourisation performance. |
| Catalyst immobilisation | ZnO nanoparticles are immobilised within porous polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibres. |
| Mechanical excitation effect | Mechanical vibrations generate piezoelectric polarisation, suppress recombination of light-generated electrons and holes, and increase formation of reactive species involved in pollutant degradation. |
| Fabrication method | The membrane uses electrospinning to produce a porous, high-surface-area, and mechanically stable PLA-ZnO membrane. |
| Design choice vs dispersed catalyst | The approach comprises using a PLA-ZnO membrane instead of freely dispersed ZnO powder. |
| Integrated catalysis modes | The system integrates photocatalysis and piezocatalysis to enable pollutant degradation using both light and mechanical vibrations. |
| Nanoparticle synthesis route | ZnO nanoparticles are synthesised using turmeric extract. |
| Turmeric extract compounds used | Naturally occurring compounds act as reducing and stabilising agents: curcumin, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds. |
| Synthesis safety feature | The synthesis route avoids methods involving harmful reagents. |
| Dye decolourisation performance | Under combined light and ultrasonic excitation, the nanofibres achieve 98.6% decolourisation of MB dye and 96.7% of CR dye within 120 minutes. |
| Antibacterial performance | The material demonstrates antibacterial activity, inactivating approximately 75% of E. coli and 71% of S. aureus after 6 hours. |
| Machine learning inputs | Machine learning is integrated to predict dye-decolourisation behaviour using parameters: wavelength, treatment time, catalyst quantity, ultrasonic frequency, light intensity, and dye concentration. |
| Applications identified | Potential applications comprise treating textile and industrial wastewater containing persistent dyes and microbial contaminants, environmental remediation, and antibacterial water-treatment membranes. |