Sustainable multilayer biomass carbon and polymer hybrid column as potential antibacterial water filter

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2022-01, Vol.286, p.131691-131691, Article 131691
• Main Authors: John, Josfel Flora, Jagannathan, Mohanraj, Rajendran, Ajay Rakkesh, Mohanapriya, Panneerselvam, Natarajan, Tirupattur Srinivasan, Dhinasekaran, Durgalakshmi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antimicrobial; Fibres; Graphene; Sewage treatment; Silver; Water purifier
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131691

Stipulation of fresh water for domestic use without any microbial, organic and inorganic contaminants is of high need. Sustainable, efficient, cost-effective and robust water purification technologies is of high need and it can be achieved using nanomaterials and their composite. Nanostructured graphene has unique properties like high surface to volume ratio, higher absorbability, reusability with minimal chemical alterations, and low cytotoxicity. From the validation of these properties, we have developed PLLA-Ag@graphene sandwich structures as an effective adsorbate for water purification application. As the real water bodies have lot of bacterial contaminants, the material is also designed as efficient adsorbate with antibacterial efficacy. In view of achieving these objectives, we have synthesized PLLA fibre mats by electrospinning method, followed by PLLA-Graphene and Ag decorated PLLA-graphene mats. The crystallite size for graphite and Ag@graphene was calculated as 30.82 nm and 43.79 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the UV analysis of Ag@graphene shows two peaks corresponding to graphene and Ag NP at 285 nm and 407 nm respectively. The layers were assembled in the order of polymeric fibre, as-fired biomass graphite, Ag@graphene for methodical filtration process. The filtration efficacy of the filtrate was tested using sewage water and the results shows higher contamination removal percentage of 87 % with TDS values in the drinking water standards after filtration. The antibacterial efficacy results also evidence of the potentialities of the hybrid system towards water purification application. Graphical abstract for the decontamination of water using a filtrate containing layered arrangement of PLLA fibres, Ag@graphene and biomass derived graphite show effective antibacterial efficacy. The photograph image shows the system implemented with in-house fabricated pellet into the cylindrical syringe towards waste water treatment. The scheme represents the assembled layers for water remediation. [Display omitted] •Decontamination of wastewater using carbon based assembled filtrate.•PLLA fibres, Ag@graphene and as-fired graphite are the filtrate layers.•Bioplastic polymer and graphene from biomass was introduced for water filtration.•Contamination % and the reusability of the pellet was studied.•The bacterial contaminant was grown and imaged using fluorescence imaging.