Preparation and performance of three-layered structure composite membrane for heavy metal ions and hazardous dyes rejection

A three-layered structure composite membrane was successfully fabricated by electrospinning cellulose acetate (CA)/poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) fibrous layers and coating the chitosan (CS) solution on the CA/PHBV substrate as a barrier layer. For obtaining the proper mechanical property and high filtration performance, different content of glycerol was investigated to mix in CS coating solution. The ovalbumin tests showed that this triple-structure type of filtration media exhibited a high flux rate (up to 730 L/m(2) h at the feed pressure of 0.15 MPa) and an excellent rejection rate (98%). The permeation flux of the membrane was significantly higher than other reported electrospun fiber membranes with similar rejection ratios. The CA/PHBV-CS composite membrane was also used to remove disperse dye and metal ion for water purification. These prepared membranes exhibited efficient adsorption separation performance toward disperse yellow dye with the maximum adsorption capacity reaching up to 188.52 mg/g. The equilibrium absorption capacities of the three tested ions (Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cr(III)) were 46.26, 88.31, and 190.14 mg/g, respectively. Consequently, these membranes can be promising materials in wastewater treatment. (c) 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:E322-E329, 2019. (c) 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers