decreases the contact angle which is also seen in Fig. 2. Hence, this result clearly
gives that the hydrophilic nature of the electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibrous
membrane is suitable for water filtration applications.
After filtering the piped river water using the developed electrospun cellulose
acetate nanofibrous membrane morphology is as seen in Fig. 1b. The microorganisms are filtered and stayed in the surface of the electrospun cellulose acetate
nanofibrous membrane which is clearly seen in Fig. 1b. Similarly, the electrospun
cellulose acetate nanofibrous membrane was used to filter the bacteria, sand, coal
particles, yeast, viruses, and few metal ions [39]. Therefore, the prepared electrospun
cellulose acetate nanofibrous membrane is undoubtedly filtering the microorganisms
which are present in water. The prepared electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibrous
membrane filters the bacteria, but it does not completely destroy the bacteria which
are stayed in the surface of the membrane. To overcome the above problem, the
antibacterial agent is essential to prevent the growth of bacteria and reduce the
harmful effects. In recent years, the metal oxide has been frequently used as
antibacterial agents namely zinc oxide, titanium oxide, copper oxide, aluminum
oxide, silicon oxide, iron oxide, and cerium oxide, respectively. Of these, zinc
oxide has excellent antibacterial activities, and its application is versatile in nature.
Hence, the antibacterial rich material like zinc oxide nanoparticle is incorporated into
the cellulose acetate and develops the zinc oxide-cellulose acetate nanofibrous
membrane.
Fig. 1 Scanning electron microscopic images of the electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibrous
membrane (a) before filtration and (b) after filtration
Fig. 2 Contact angle measurements of the electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibrous membrane
232
E. Thangaraju and R. Muthuraj
gives that the hydrophilic nature of the electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibrous
membrane is suitable for water filtration applications.
After filtering the piped river water using the developed electrospun cellulose
acetate nanofibrous membrane morphology is as seen in Fig. 1b. The microorganisms are filtered and stayed in the surface of the electrospun cellulose acetate
nanofibrous membrane which is clearly seen in Fig. 1b. Similarly, the electrospun
cellulose acetate nanofibrous membrane was used to filter the bacteria, sand, coal
particles, yeast, viruses, and few metal ions [39]. Therefore, the prepared electrospun
cellulose acetate nanofibrous membrane is undoubtedly filtering the microorganisms
which are present in water. The prepared electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibrous
membrane filters the bacteria, but it does not completely destroy the bacteria which
are stayed in the surface of the membrane. To overcome the above problem, the
antibacterial agent is essential to prevent the growth of bacteria and reduce the
harmful effects. In recent years, the metal oxide has been frequently used as
antibacterial agents namely zinc oxide, titanium oxide, copper oxide, aluminum
oxide, silicon oxide, iron oxide, and cerium oxide, respectively. Of these, zinc
oxide has excellent antibacterial activities, and its application is versatile in nature.
Hence, the antibacterial rich material like zinc oxide nanoparticle is incorporated into
the cellulose acetate and develops the zinc oxide-cellulose acetate nanofibrous
membrane.
Fig. 1 Scanning electron microscopic images of the electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibrous
membrane (a) before filtration and (b) after filtration
Fig. 2 Contact angle measurements of the electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibrous membrane
232
E. Thangaraju and R. Muthuraj