Self-assembled electrospun PVA/CMC/PEO composite fiber film material with enhanced dye adsorption performance for wastewater treatment

Abstract

As society rapidly progresses, environmental issues, including water pollution and ecosystem degradation are steadily worsening. In this work, a novel functional nanofiber composite film based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and polyethylene oxide (PEO) were prepared by using electrospinning technique. The incorporation of PEO facilitated a more concentrated nanofiber diameter distribution. The prepared composite films were further modified with glutaraldehyde vapor to enhance their hydrophobicity and improve pore-making capabilities on the fiber surface. The nanocomposite fiber film, with its simple preparation process, cost-effectiveness, and environmental friendliness, exhibits a promising prospect in addressing environmental challenges. Notably, the designed nanofiber films demonstrated remarkable efficiency in dye adsorption, owing to the high specific surface area of the fibers and the selective binding of active groups on the fiber surface to the dyes. Moreover, they showed good reusability, which is of great significance for adsorbents. Therefore, the obtained composite films from environmentally friendly preparation process has great application potential in wastewater treatment and dye removal.