Novel Bacteria-Immobilized Cellulose Acetate/Poly(ethylene oxide) Nanofibrous Membrane for Wastewater Treatment

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 18994 - 11
• Main Authors: Zamel, Doaa, Hassanin, Ahmed H., Ellethy, Rania, Singer, Gamal, Abdelmoneim, Ahmed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 12.12.2019; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/158; 631/1647; 631/326; 631/61; 631/92; 639/301; 639/4077; 639/638; 639/925; 704/172; Acetic acid; Adsorption; Bacillus - metabolism; Bacillus - ultrastructure; Bacteria; Cellulose - analogs & derivatives; Cellulose - chemistry; Cellulose - ultrastructure; Cellulose acetate; Dyes; Humanities and Social Sciences; Membranes, Artificial; Methylene Blue - isolation & purification; multidisciplinary; Nanofibers - chemistry; Nanofibers - ultrastructure; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Polyethylene oxide; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Temperature; Time Factors; Waste Water; Wastewater treatment; Water Purification
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55265-w

In this study, electrospun cellulose acetate - poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibrous membrane was found to be unique in immobilizing bacterial cells. Here, removal of methylene blue in aqueous media was achieved by using isolated species of bacteria ( Bacillus paramycoides ) from industrial wastewater and immobilized on cellulose acetate- poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers using DMSO as a solvent. The decolorization time was varied from 0 to 72 h, different dye concentrations from 20 to 200 mg/L and bacterial cells count was investigated to achieve the maximum MB removal by bacteria-immobilized CA/PEO nanofibrous membrane. The effective dye decolorization was achieved within 48 h and MB removal % was around 93%. Furthermore, reusability of the bacteria-immobilized CA/PEO nanofibrous membrane was tested. It was found that after the 4 th usage, 44% of the dye decolorization capacity still could be achieved. These results are promising and suggest that bacteria-immobilized CA/PEO nanofibrous membrane could be economically feasible and eco-friendly when used in MB removal from industrial wastewater. Combination of both adsorption and biodegradation methods was found to be effective in MB removal from aqueous media.