Electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride-ZnO composite fibers for pyrocatalytic wastewater treatment

Piezocatalysis and tribocatalysis have been widely used for wastewater treatment and disinfection using poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and composites. However, the pyrocatalytic potential of these materials remains largely unexplored. The present study synthesized PVDF and PVDF-ZnO composite fiber films using the electrospinning technique for wastewater treatment applications. The fabricated compositions were characterized using various measurements to confirm their phase structure and surface morphology. The PVDF/PVDF-ZnO fiber film is analyzed for pyrocatalytic-driven dye degradation using methylene blue (MB) dye as a pollutant. The highest MB dye degradation is 91.84 % after 60 heating/cooling cycles. The effect of the electric field applied during the fabrication is also analyzed, and it was found that the PVDF-ZnO film electrospun under 18 kV provides maximum dye degradation. The confirmation of active species during dye degradation is done using a scavenger test. The repeatability and reusability of the fabricated composite are also studied.