Cellulose-Coated Nanostructures Remove Dyes From Water

Cellulose waste can now be used to purify water, according to a published study by researchers from TU Wien or Vienna University of Technology in Austria.

Published in the June 2024 issue of Small Science, the study unveiled a practical solution to water pollution. The team demonstrated how cellulose-coated nanostructures can effectively remove hazardous dyes from water, essentially transforming cellulose waste into a nano-filter.

"We are working with semi-crystalline nanocellulose, which can be produced from waste material. Metal-containing substances are often used for similar purposes. Our material, on the other hand, is completely harmless to the environment, and we can also produce it by upcycling waste paper," said Qaisar Maqbool, a postdoc in TU Wien Prof. Günther Rupprechter's research group and first author of the study.

The team created the nanostructures using the electrospinning process. This method involves spraying the material in liquid form. During spraying, the droplets acquire an electric charge and pass through an electric field.

Prof. Rupprechter said this process allows the liquid to create fine threads as thin as 180 to 200 nanometers in diameter during curing. When placed on a square centimeter, these threads also form a nanoweb that creates a total surface area of over 10cm2.

The cellulose-coated nanostructures effectively removed 95% violet dye during testing, achieving purified water after three cycles. The nanoweb captures the dyes, and after utilization, it can either be discarded or regenerated by dissolving the trapped dyes and reusing the filter fabric.

Read the full article here to learn more about cellulose-coated nanostructures and their potential use in other fields.

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