Water pollution is one of the key global problems which require immediate attention. Worldwide, it is predicted that more than 50% of countries will encounter water scarcities by 2025 which will increase to 75% by 2075. Each year more than 5 million people die due to water-borne diseases. The threat due to pollution by industries, exponential population growth, urbanization, by pathogenic microorganisms from human and animal waste, etc. The rise in water pollution and its subsequent effects on human health and environment is a matter of great concern. The water pollutants ought to be removed to improve water quality for human use. Nanoparticles or zero dimensional materials have been extensively studied since long, whereas one dimensional material (nanorods, nanotubes, nanowires, or nanofibers) have recently grabbed a lot of interest from global researchers. Nanofibers having large aspect ratio are grabbing incredible attention owing to dependency of physical property on directionality having high porosity and surface area as compared to normal fibers.
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Wastewater comes from various industrial resources (Fig. 1); for instance; aluminum, fabric, steel, petroleum, foodstuff, metal refinement as well as petrochemical and leather manufacturing, (Xue, Cao, Liu, Feng, & Jiang, 2014). On one hand we have several oil/waters partition methodologies (centrifugation, air flotation, coalescence, gravity separation, etc.); however; on the other hand, these techniques have scores of drawbacks, such as low separation effectiveness, prolonged duration, and elevated energy usage. Conversely, membrane separation method is believed to be outstanding method for oil/water separation process. This method has scores of usefulness such as steady quality of permeation, relatively low operating cost, and low energy costs. Therefore, membrane tools are widely being utilized for purification of wastewater. Although, this is energy-efficient process for removal of contaminations for water purification, however, the key challenge of this technology is selection of materials that can improve membrane characteristics as well as efficiency. Principally, there are two major kinds of membrane supplies such as polymeric and inorganic, (ceramic and composite), that are mostly utilized in membrane development for wastewater treatment. Environmental remediation imposes execution of innovative materials and techniques, which should be cost effective as well as energy proficient. In this direction the nanomaterials with distinctive physicochemical characterization are most favorable resolution. Consequently, there is urgent requirement for designing of novel nanomaterials for attenuation of ecological problems in economic approach. Nevertheless, the electrospun nanofibers are desirable possessions owing to high aspect ratio and excellent porosity which impart amazing selection and permeability to filter membranes. The functional properties and applications of these fibers are enhanced through nanocomposite approach. The nanofibers can be blend with metal oxides, carbon nanotubes, worthy metals as well as novel biomolecules all through the electrospinning and post-electrospinning to impart fascinating and practical properties. Furthermore, to meet operational necessities such as to improve mechanical firmness, lessen of pressure drop, etc., nanofibers are blended by non-woven microfibers to form a crossbreed crust. These unique nanofibrous composites can accomplish amazing goal of environmental remediation.
Similarly encapsulating inorganic nanomaterials, e.g., ZnO, Ag, Au nanoparticles (NPs) etc, as well as graphene within polymeric matrices significantly advances permeation, antifouling, photocatalytic, and antibacterial characteristics of nanofibers. Interesting aforementioned nanocomposites offer excellent mechanical strength and thermal stability. Furthermore, these electrospun nanofibers having excellent antimicrobial features can reject biological contaminants (viz.; bacteria, fungi, mycoplasms and viruses etc.) in wastewater and therefore will conduct excellent disinfection and microbial control. Conclusively, well organized nanofibrous filters with aforementioned characteristics are required for pertinent future water purification industries (Mousa, Alfadhel, & Abouel Nasr, 2020). An extensive estimation has been offered on existing research and development of electrospun nanofibers containing various antimicrobial compounds. The impact of encapsulation of antimicrobial compounds (organic or/ and inorganic) on properties of precursor solutions with different polymers and characteristics of resultant electrospun nanofibers are recapitulated in this chapter.
Figure 1. Possible sources of wastewaters and role of novel Electrospun nanofibers for purification