Fabrication of Boehmite Nanoparticles Embedded Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibers Using Electrospinning for Antifouling Microfiltration Membrane Applications

In the present study the main aim was to fabricate the nanofiber polymeric membrane with improved surface properties for application as an antifouling microfiltration membrane in wastewater treatment. The improved nanofiber microfiltration membranes were electrospun from the polyacrylonitrile solutions containing 0.5 to 5 w/w% boehmite nanoparticles. Embedding the hydrophilic boehmite nanoparticles increased the surface hydrophilicity and antifouling properties of the membrane. Among the prepared nanofiber microfiltration membranes, the 3 w/w% boehmites embedded polyacrylonitrile nanofiber membrane (MD) was selected as the membrane with optimum antifouling properties and permeate flux. Concerning the results obtained, our prepared antifouling nanofiber membrane can be efficiently used for wastewater treatment applications.