Electrospining: Electrospinning biohybrid wastewater treatment technology: principle, application and prospect

Background

Electrospinning technology is a classic and efficient method for synthesizing polymer fibers and micro-nano materials. ES technology first appeared in 1887, and CV. Boys described a method for producing fiber filaments by natural forces alone, without any contact. From 1902 to 1990, due to the development of nanoscale electron microscopes, several invention patents were successively announced, and integrated electrospinning devices appeared at the same time. During this period, the study of ES mechanical principles and mathematical models promoted the advancement of this technology. Since 1964, Geoffrey Taylor has described the change in appearance of polymer solutions or molten droplets from spherical to conical under high-voltage electrostatic fields through mathematical models. When the electric field intensity exceeds the critical level of the droplet surface tension, the spherical droplet is ejected and evolves into a cone (Taylor cone). Their research has brought new life to ES technology.

The main point of this paper

Principles and characteristics of electrospinning technology:

Basic principle: charged fluid flows and deforms in an electrostatic field to form fibrous substances.

Equipment composition: including electrostatic high-voltage power supply, liquid supply device and fiber collection device.

Influencing factors: polymer solution concentration, electric field strength, distance between capillary mouth and collector, fluid flow rate, etc. will affect the formation and characteristics of fibers.

Application of electrospinning technology:

Environmental remediation: electrospun nanofiber membrane (NFM) shows great potential in environmental treatment, including adsorption of organic dyes, heavy metal ions, antibiotics, etc., as well as bacterial elimination and air purification.

Biohybrid materials: combining biomolecules, cells or tissues with polymers, ceramics, metals, etc., for use in biomedicine, drug delivery, food and environmental fields.

Water treatment: Biohybrid fibers prepared by electrospinning technology using microbial cells show efficient and continuous adsorption and degradation performance for pollutants such as heavy metals and organic matter in wastewater.

Advantages of electrospinning technology in wastewater treatment:

High specific surface area and porosity: provide more adsorption sites and improve pollutant removal efficiency.

Biocompatibility and biohybridization: Immobilized microorganisms can selectively degrade specific pollutants and provide targeted treatment capabilities.

Renewable and reusable: Contributes to cost-effectiveness and resource conservation.

Sustainable treatment methods: Reduce dependence on chemical additives and reduce environmental impact.

Research progress and challenges:

Biohybrid technology: The use of ES technology as a fixed substrate for microbial remediation of heavy metal or organic wastewater has gradually attracted the attention of researchers.

Scale-up and industrialization: Electrospinning biohybrid technology faces technical barriers and challenges in the expansion from laboratory scale to industrialization.

Application and prospects of electrospinning technology in bio-hybrid environmental remediation

Influencing factors:

Parameters affecting the electrospinning process include voltage, solution flow rate, needle distance, solution concentration and viscosity, solvent, spinning drum speed, fiber preparation environment, etc.

Microbial selection and material synthesis route:

In water treatment, electrospinning biohybrid technology involves the selection of microorganisms, such as bacteria, algae, yeast, etc., as well as material synthesis routes. These microorganisms construct biohybrid fibers through fiber embedding, microtube embedding, co-electrospinning and other methods

Degradation efficiency:

Electrospinning biohybrid materials show efficient and continuous adsorption and degradation performance for pollutants such as heavy metals, organic matter, nitrogen-containing compounds, and surfactants in wastewater

Technical characteristics and industrial prospects:

Electrospinning nanofiber membranes have become one of the most commonly used methods for preparing nanofiber membranes due to their high specific surface area, high porosity, easy preparation and scalability. The high efficiency and selectivity of microbial technology can effectively solve the pollution problems faced by cities, chemical industry and energy fields

The emergence of electrospinning biohybrid composites provides a chemically and thermally stable carrier for the sustained biochemical activity of highly active strains and ensures the repeatability of multiple continuous uses

Summarize

In recent years, the application of electrospun biohybrid composites in the fields of environment and energy has shown the unique advantages of this technology. Electrospun nanofiber membranes have become one of the most commonly used methods for preparing nanofiber membranes due to their high specific surface area, high porosity, easy preparation and scalability. The high efficiency and selectivity of microbial technology can effectively solve the pollution problems faced by cities, chemical industry and energy fields.