Removal of Pb and Cu Metals by PVDF/Clay Membranes Obtained Through Solution Blow Spinning Technique

Metal contamination in effluents is a serious environmental problem. When heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium are released into industrial or urban wastewater, they can persist in the environment for long periods. These metals are toxic to aquatic life and can accumulate in the food chain, harming human health. In this work, nanocomposites with micro and nanoscale fiber matrix of poly (vinylidene fluoride)–PVDF with addition of montmorillonite clay, in concentrations were produced by the technical solution of blow spinning. Adsorption tests showed that the ideal conditions for the highest removal rate (87%) were using nanocomposites at a concentration of 30% for 24 h in water/ethanol (95/5 V/V). The pseudo-second order and Langmuir models were the most suitable for describing the kinetic and adsorption isothermal data, respectively. Membrane tests indicated that nanocomposites with 10% clay were the most suitable, achieving a removal rate of more than 90% of metals