Electrospun nanofibre membranes functionalised with TiO2 nanoparticles: Evaluation of humic acid and bacterial removal from polluted water

• Nanofibre membranes were tested for effluent treatment.
• TiO2 functionalised nanofibres showed photodegradation of humic acids and S. aureus.
• Effluent filtration with nanofibre membranes improved water quality significantly.
• Nanofibres could be used as high-flux filtration method for effluent recuperation.

This study presents contact experiments and filtration tests with nanofibre membranes containing TiO2 nanoparticles in view of effluent treatment. The first part of this study focuses on the removal of dissolved organic matter, more specifically humic acids. Removal of humic acids from secondary wastewater treatment plant effluent as well as from synthetic water solutions was tested. Also the bactericidal effect of the TiO2 functionalised nanofibre membranes was examined. Contact experiments with TiO2 functionalised membranes showed removal of humic acids (83% degradation after 2 h) and Staphylococcus aureus (4.5 log10/100 ml after 6 h). Also the possibility of using (TiO2 functionalised) nanofibre membranes for effluent filtration in view of water reuse, was examined. Such secondary effluent filtration tests improved water quality as a reduction in turbidity (69%), humic acids (37%) and bacterial activity (76%) was observed. It can be concluded that nanofibre membranes could be used as a high-flux filtration technique for effluent recuperation.