36.35%) as seen in Fig. 6b and Table 3. After filtering the piped river water using the
electrospun zinc oxide nanoparticle dispersed cellulose acetate nanofibrous membrane filtered the microorganisms (black circles) which is clearly seen in Fig. 5b.
Therefore, the prepared electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibrous membrane is not
only filtering the bacteria, but it also destroys the bacteria which creates biofouling
and harmful in water.
Fouling is one of the main disadvantages to use as electrospun nanofibrous
membrane in water filtration applications. Therefore, the surface modification is
essential to achieve the better mechanical stability. The zinc oxide nanoparticle
dispersed cellulose acetate nanofibrous membrane does not need surface modification because the zinc oxide nanoparticles could modify the surface, and fit for water
filtration applications.
Fig. 5 Scanning electron microscopic images of electrospun zinc oxide nanoparticles dispersed
cellulose acetate nanofibrous membrane (a) before filtration and (b) after filtration
Fig. 6 Electrospun zinc oxide nanoparticle dispersed cellulose acetate nanofibrous membrane in
(a) transmission electron microscopic image and (b) EDX Spectrum
Table 3 EDX data of zinc oxide nanoparticles
Element Spectrum type App conc. Intensity corn Weight % Sigma % Atomic %
O K
ED
29.67
1.3361
46.05
1.19
77.72
Zn K
ED
22.79
0.8763
53.95
1.19
22.28
236
E. Thangaraju and R. Muthuraj