Study on Removal of Reactive Blue 19 using PVA Electrospun Nanofibers

Textile pollutants, especially dyes are toxic compared to other pollutants and their presence is more sense in the environment. Reactive dye due to its high molecular weight and aromatic structure is more dangerous than other dyes. These dyes are highly soluble in water and are not easily removed by common treatment methods. Among the methods of wastewater treatment, application of membrane filtration via nanofibers can be more effective, since these membranes are very porous and their pores are interconnected; moreover, they can easily be functionalized. This research aimed at removal of reactive blue 19 dye from the simulated dyeing effluent using adsorbent through a membrane produced by electrospinning of the PVA solution. In this regard, the influence of different parameters on the fiber production conditions such as polymer concentration, applied voltage intensity, distance of nozzle to collector and feeding rate were investigated. In addition, effects of environmental factors including pH and temperature, contact time and nanofiber mass on the dye removal efficiency were studied. The very fine nanofiber was produced by 1.7% wt PVA at 15 kV with 1.0 ml/h feeding rate from 13 cm. The research found 91% dye removal efficiency using prepared nanofibers at pH 2.1, 35˚C and 20 mg/l nanofibers. The results indicate that the process of dye adsorption on the nanofiber mass is endothermic.