Modification of PAN electrospun nanofiber membranes with g-C3N4 nanotubes/carbon dots to enhance MBR performance

Bahar Yavuzturk Gul; Oguz Orhun Teber; Gizem Tuncay; Enise Pekgenc; Nigar Arabi; Paria Hemmati-Eslamlu; Aziz Habibi-Yangjeh; Vahid Vatanpour; Ismail Koyuncu

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140866

Modification of PAN electrospun nanofiber membranes with g-C₃N₄ nanotubes/carbon dots to enhance MBR performance

Chemosphere. 2024 Feb:349:140866. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140866. Epub 2023 Dec 4.

Authors

Bahar Yavuzturk Gul¹, Oguz Orhun Teber², Gizem Tuncay¹, Enise Pekgenc¹, Nigar Arabi³, Paria Hemmati-Eslamlu⁴, Aziz Habibi-Yangjeh⁴, Vahid Vatanpour⁵, Ismail Koyuncu⁶

Affiliations

¹ National Research Center on Membrane Technologies (MEM-TEK), Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Environmental Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 34469, Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey.
² National Research Center on Membrane Technologies (MEM-TEK), Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey; Nano Science and Nano Engineering Department, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, Istanbul 34469, Turkey.
³ National Research Center on Membrane Technologies (MEM-TEK), Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
⁵ National Research Center on Membrane Technologies (MEM-TEK), Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Kharazmi University, 15719-14911, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: vahidvatanpour@khu.ac.ir.
⁶ National Research Center on Membrane Technologies (MEM-TEK), Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Environmental Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 34469, Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: koyuncu@itu.edu.tr.

PMID: 38056719
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140866

Abstract

This study is dedicated to the enhancement of electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber membranes for their application in membrane bioreactor (MBR) processes. The improvement is achieved through the incorporation of graphitic carbon nitride nanotubes/carbon dots (g-C₃N₄ NT/CDs) and subsequent heat post-treatments at varying temperatures. Notably, the hot-pressing methodology effectively mitigates surface roughness and significantly reduces issues related to peeling during nanofiber experimentation. Our results demonstrate that the introduction of 0.5 wt% of g-C₃N₄ NT/CDs leads to a substantial enhancement in water flux. In particular, nanocomposite membranes subjected to hot-pressing at 90 °C for 10 min exhibited an impressive flux recovery ratio (FRR) of 70%. Furthermore, the heat-treated nanocomposite membranes exhibited remarkable antifouling properties and significantly reduced fouling rates when compared to their heat-treated bare counterparts. This study underscores the noteworthy potential of g-C₃N₄ NT/CDs-modified PAN nanofiber membranes to substantially elevate MBR performance, firmly positioning them as highly promising candidates for critical applications in the domains of water and wastewater treatment. However, it is imperative to underscore that the existing written material necessitates a comprehensive overhaul to align with the provided structural framework.

Keywords: Antifouling properties; MBR performance; Membrane modification; PAN electrospun nanofiber membranes; g-C(3)N(4) NT/CDs.

MeSH terms

Carbon
Nanofibers* / chemistry
Nanotubes*
Water

Substances

Carbon
polyacrylonitrile
Water