Evaluation of contaminant removal from PVDF nanofibers with electrospun ZnO particles

This work presents a preliminary study on the production and application of poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers incorporated with zinc oxide (ZnO) particles, obtained by electrospinning, aimed at removing heavy metals from aqueous solutions. The methodology involved the preparation of PVDF solutions in dimethylformamide (DMF), which were electrospun under optimized parameters. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), revealing homogeneous fibers with cylindrical morphology and the presence of β and α crystalline phases of PVDF. The incorporation of ZnO was confirmed through structural analyses and the observation of agglomerates in the micrographs. Adsorption tests showed that membranes containing 30% ZnO achieved removal rates of up to 80% for lead (Pb) and 77% for copper (Cu), while pure PVDF fibers also showed some efficiency. The results indicate that the presence of ZnO promotes the formation of active adsorption sites, suggesting strong potential for use in environmental remediation processes. This research highlights the feasibility of the technique, its low cost, and practical applicability, marking an important step toward developing advanced materials for treating wastewater contaminated with heavy metals.