Fabrication of Sustainable Sodium Alginate/Polyethyleneimine/Polyvinyl Alcohol Multilayer Composite Electrospun Nanofiber Membrane for Efficient Cu2+ Removal

Abstract

In pursuit of sustainable solutions for water pollution mitigation, we have successfully employed electrospinning technology to fabricate a multilayered sodium alginate (SA)/polyethyleneimine (PEI)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite fiber membrane, with a focus on enhancing its adsorption capacity for Cu2+ ions in wastewater. Our research underscores the potential of this novel membrane, characterized by its small diameter, high uniformity, and expansive surface area, in effectively filtering heavy metal ions. By optimizing critical electrospinning parameters such as a voltage of 19.5 KV, a collector distance of 8 cm, a specific mass ratio of SA:PEI: PVA (1:2:6), and an injection rate of 8 μL/min, we achieved a nanofiber membrane with an average diameter of 112.5 nm, exhibiting exceptional morphological characteristics and high efficiency. Notably, the membrane exhibited an adsorption capacity of over 85% for Cu2+ during initial testing, maintaining over 80% efficiency throughout four consecutive filtration cycles. This work not only advances the field of nanocomposite membranes for water purification but also contributes significantly to the broader goal of achieving environmental sustainability by mitigating the impact of heavy metal contamination in water bodies.