Research and Demonstration of Electrospun Nanofiber Filters: Multifunctional, Chemically Active Filtration Technologies for Small Scale Water Treatment Systems

This project is creating nano-scale fibers from inorganic and organic mixtures to construct mat-like filters suitable to remove several important contaminants. One type is based on titanium dioxide and is expected to enhance photo-oxidation reactions. A second type is based on iron oxide, and will be used to remove arsenic. The third type is carbon based for control of organic microconstituents. Once optimized these highly reactive units will be integrated into a single filter unit with sequential yet spatially resolved layers of each nanomaterial to impart true multi-functionality and ability to perform several treatment operations simultaneously over small spatial scales. The ability to tune nanofiber properties during electrospinning enables optimization of their reactivity. Synergistic performance characteristics of these nanofiber mats will be optimized and applied to source waters representative of rural systems (i.e., contaminated with arsenic, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals).