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Removal of PVA from Textile Wastewater Using Modified PVDF Membranes by Electrospun Cellulose Nanofibers

Shalaby, Marwa S. ; Lipnizki, Frank LU orcid ; Abdallah, Heba ; Shaban, Ahmed M. ; Ramadan, Rania ; Mansor, Eman ; Hosney, Marwa ; Thomas, Akhil ; Babu, Binny Maria and K E, Merin Rose , et al. (2025) 4th International Workshop on Membrane Distillation and Innovating Membrane Operations in Desalination and Water Reuse
Abstract
The textile industry generates vast wastewater containing synthetic dyes and polymeric additives like poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), which pose serious environmental challenges. Conventional treatment methods struggle to remove these contaminants while enabling resource recovery. PVA, widely used as a textile sizing agent, increases treatment complexity, while reactive dyes like Reactive Yellow 145 are highly water-soluble and resistant to degradation. A sustainable membrane-based separation process is essential to address these issues, facilitate material reuse, and reduce water consumption.
This study evaluated a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane modified with cellulose nanostructures for removing PVA and reactive dyes from... (More)
The textile industry generates vast wastewater containing synthetic dyes and polymeric additives like poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), which pose serious environmental challenges. Conventional treatment methods struggle to remove these contaminants while enabling resource recovery. PVA, widely used as a textile sizing agent, increases treatment complexity, while reactive dyes like Reactive Yellow 145 are highly water-soluble and resistant to degradation. A sustainable membrane-based separation process is essential to address these issues, facilitate material reuse, and reduce water consumption.
This study evaluated a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane modified with cellulose nanostructures for removing PVA and reactive dyes from synthetic textile wastewater. The goal was to recycle PVA and Reactive Yellow 145 while reclaiming water. The influence of SnO₂/ZnO nanostructures on permeation and rejection was assessed, along with the antifouling properties of PVDF membranes, both with and without electrospun cellulose nanofibers. Characterization techniques such as SEM, EDS, FTIR, mechanical strength testing, contact angle measurement, AFM, and molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) determination were employed. MWCO results showed reduced pore size after surface modification with electrospun cellulose acetate (CA), with the modified membrane (M2-Mod) exhibiting a lower MWCO of 6,700 Da compared to 13,980 Da for the unmodified membrane.
The optimal PVDF-based nanocomposite incorporated SnO₂, ZnO, and electrospun cellulose nanofibers, enhancing PVA and dye rejection while improving productivity and fouling resistance. This formulation achieved 98% PVA rejection, 95% dye rejection, and a stable flux of 20 LMH, maintaining 92% normalized flux.
Overall, the optimized membrane (M2-Mod) demonstrated excellent antifouling properties and strong potential for advancing circular economy principles and sustainability in textile wastewater treatment.


Acknowledgements
The research received financial support from the international project "Sustainable textile wastewater treatment using modified multi-layer membranes with antifouling and antibacterial properties," by the Swedish Research Council under Swedish Research Links (Diarienummer: 2021-04064). Additional administrative and financial support was provided by the National Research Centre (NRC) - Egypt providing laboratories and equipment under project number MP130601. The writers are solely accountable for the information contained in this publication.

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publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
unpublished
subject
keywords
Membrane processes, Textile wastewater, Membrane production
conference name
4th International Workshop on Membrane Distillation and Innovating Membrane Operations in Desalination and Water Reuse
conference location
Cetraro, Italy
conference dates
2025-06-04 - 2025-06-06
project
Sustainable textile wastewater treatment using modified multi-layer membranes with antifouling and antibacterial properties
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e0e504fb-7ad4-4392-ac83-24d4a7dacf98
date added to LUP
2025-12-30 18:41:04
date last changed
2026-01-15 15:00:03
@misc{e0e504fb-7ad4-4392-ac83-24d4a7dacf98,
  abstract     = {{The textile industry generates vast wastewater containing synthetic dyes and polymeric additives like poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), which pose serious environmental challenges. Conventional treatment methods struggle to remove these contaminants while enabling resource recovery. PVA, widely used as a textile sizing agent, increases treatment complexity, while reactive dyes like Reactive Yellow 145 are highly water-soluble and resistant to degradation. A sustainable membrane-based separation process is essential to address these issues, facilitate material reuse, and reduce water consumption.<br/>This study evaluated a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane modified with cellulose nanostructures for removing PVA and reactive dyes from synthetic textile wastewater. The goal was to recycle PVA and Reactive Yellow 145 while reclaiming water. The influence of SnO₂/ZnO nanostructures on permeation and rejection was assessed, along with the antifouling properties of PVDF membranes, both with and without electrospun cellulose nanofibers. Characterization techniques such as SEM, EDS, FTIR, mechanical strength testing, contact angle measurement, AFM, and molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) determination were employed. MWCO results showed reduced pore size after surface modification with electrospun cellulose acetate (CA), with the modified membrane (M2-Mod) exhibiting a lower MWCO of 6,700 Da compared to 13,980 Da for the unmodified membrane.<br/>The optimal PVDF-based nanocomposite incorporated SnO₂, ZnO, and electrospun cellulose nanofibers, enhancing PVA and dye rejection while improving productivity and fouling resistance. This formulation achieved 98% PVA rejection, 95% dye rejection, and a stable flux of 20 LMH, maintaining 92% normalized flux.<br/>Overall, the optimized membrane (M2-Mod) demonstrated excellent antifouling properties and strong potential for advancing circular economy principles and sustainability in textile wastewater treatment.<br/><br/><br/>Acknowledgements<br/>The research received financial support from the international project "Sustainable textile wastewater treatment using modified multi-layer membranes with antifouling and antibacterial properties," by the Swedish Research Council under Swedish Research Links (Diarienummer: 2021-04064). Additional administrative and financial support was provided by the National Research Centre (NRC) - Egypt providing laboratories and equipment under project number MP130601. The writers are solely accountable for the information contained in this publication.<br/><br/>}},
  author       = {{Shalaby, Marwa S. and Lipnizki, Frank and Abdallah, Heba and Shaban, Ahmed M. and Ramadan, Rania and Mansor, Eman and Hosney, Marwa and Thomas, Akhil and Babu, Binny Maria and K E, Merin Rose and Maria, Hanna J and Thomas, Sabu}},
  keywords     = {{Membrane processes; Textile wastewater; Membrane production}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  title        = {{Removal of PVA from Textile Wastewater Using Modified PVDF Membranes by Electrospun Cellulose Nanofibers}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/237011109/Textile_Poster.pdf}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}