Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
23
Electrospu
n Nanoibers in Water Puriication
Sajini Vadukumpully, Shantikumar V. Nair, and A. Sreekumaran Nair
Amrita Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine,
Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India
CONTENTS
23.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 451
23.2 Process of Electrospinning ............................................................................................... 453
23.2.1 Technological Advances in Electrospinning—Core-Shell and Hollow
Fibers ........................................................................................................................ 454
23.3 Electrospun Nanoibers for Water Puriication ............................................................. 455
23.3.1 Removal of Microbes ............................................................................................. 455
23.3.2 Removal of Organic Compounds ........................................................................ 458
23.3.3 Removal of Particulate Contaminants ................................................................ 460
23.3.4 Removal of Heavy Metal Ions .............................................................................. 461
23.3.5 Membrane Distillation .......................................................................................... 462
23.4 Current Status of the Nanoiber Filtering Media .......................................................... 463
23.5 Future Trends and Limitations ........................................................................................ 463
References ..................................................................................................................................... 464
Nanoibers of both polymers and metal oxides have attracted increasing attention for water
puriication in the last 10 years because of their high surface-to-volume ratio, high porosity,
and interconnected pore structures. The composition of the nanoibers can be controlled
to achieve desired surface functionalities and properties. Technological advances in elec-
trospinning facilitate fabrication of core-shell and hollow membranes, and commercial
machines are available for large-scale production of nanoibers for industrial applications.
This chapter summarizes recent advances in the ield. The chapter begins with a modest
introduction on electrospinning followed by the applications of electrospun nanoibers as
antimicrobial agents and in the removal of organic contaminants, particulate materials,
and heavy metals from water. The chapter concludes with the application of nanoibers in
membrane distillation followed by references.
23.1 Introduction
Although the earth's crust is made up of 75% water, availability of “clean water”
for drinking and other purposes is a major crisis.
1
It is estimated that >75% of the
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