Novel 2D nanocomposite membranes based on chitosan for water purification

The objective of this project proposal aims to develop 2D polymeric nanocomposite membranes and matrices based on chitosan loaded with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles via electrospinning method in order to obtain performant membranes for environmental applications. Since water problem tends to increase in the next decades and with the water scarcity developing worldwide, appeared the need to develop new materials in order to solve this problem. The water problem is imperious, because proper sources of clean water must be unfading and support future generations, also. After previous failures, amazing materials were developed and the promising obtained-membranes were successfully used in wastewater technologies. Chitosan biopolymers presents great interest because of their biodegradability, nontoxicity, reactivity, good hydrophilicity and being the cheapest biopolymers in nature make them the most available materials for this application. After analyzing many membranes, researchers have proven that chitosan biopolymers used as adsorbent materials have great prospective in the removal of heavy metals and other contaminants from wastewaters. In order to sustain this statement, the idea is to approach the membrane’s processing using the electrospinning process, which according to literature represents a useful method to obtain the as-wanted 2D nanocomposite membranes based on chitosan. The as-obtained 2D nanostructure membranes based on chitosan will further be characterize through scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction but also antimicrobial assay in order to examine their performance for this application. Even if our investigation into this research is still in progress, we believe that the 2D polymeric nanocomposite membranes based on chitosan obtained through the electrospinning process presented the opportunity for implementing a new technological model.

General objective:

Development of the 2D nanocomposite membranes based on chitosan for water purification. Specific objectives: O1–Potential assessment of chitosan-based nanostructures for environmental applications. In this section will be presented the synthesis routes for developing the nanoparticles and chitosan used in the fabrication of the 2D nanostructuremembranes through the electrospinning process for environmental applications; the morphostructural, photocatalytic and antimicrobial optimization of introduced fillers (TiO2 and ZnO) into the matrices. O2– Synthesis and characterization of these 2D nanostructures based on chitosan loaded with ZnO nanoparticles. This stage involves the synthesis and optimization of the 2D obtained structures; also, will be displayed the retention and stability property of the nanostructures and other important assessments. O3- Synthesis and characterization of the 2D nanostructures based also on chitosan loaded with TiO2 nanoparticles. The novelty of this project approaches/ includes the formation of 2D nanostructure membranes through the electrospinning process which will have unique structural and physicochemical properties in order to address their applicability in water treatment.