Hybrid matrices of ZnO nanofibers with silicone for high water flux photocatalytic degradation of dairy effluent

•Hybrid ZnO silicon nanoporous matrices are introduced.•The water flux is high 9407 L/m2h for ZnO silicon nanoporous matrices.•The ZnO silicon nanoporous matrices showed good photocatalytic properties.•The ZnO nanoporous matrices showed 2298 ml/g h rate of hydrogen production.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanofibers were produced by electrospinning technique and surface coated on silicone elastomer substrate (diameter: 10.0 mm; thickness: 2.0 mm) by a dipcoating method. The obtained hybrid nanoporous matrices were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformation infrared techniques (FTIR). These characterizations reveal that the surface morphology of electrospun nanofibers remained intact by the dipcoating technique. The produced hybrid matrices showed high water flux of 9407 L/m2h, 38% removal rate of dairy effluent (DE) and 2298 ml/g h rate of hydrogen production.

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