Novel PVA/Chitosan composite membrane modified using bio fabricated α -MnO2 nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of cationic dyes

By integrating the benefits of poly vinyl alcohol and chitosan with bio fabricated α-MnO 2 nanoparticles, a novel type polymer-nanocomposite membrane was synthesized through a simple and facile casting method. In this proposed work, the membrane prepared was used for removal of organic textile dyes from their aqueous solution. Two cationic dyes, methylene blue and eosin yellow were chosen as template dyes to be removed from industrial waste water. These dyes were degraded by carrying out a reaction in which the synthesized membrane was used as a photocatalyst. The photocatalyst was found to be highly efficient for removal of these dyes from their aqueous solutions. The efficiency of catalyst and the rate of reaction were also examined by varying parameters such as pH, initial concentration of dyes and composition of membrane. The catalyst was found to be reusable as its efficiency did not deteriorate even after using it for 5 times. Such functional membrane having higher stability, low production cost, excellent efficiency to degrade dyes and good recyclability are promising material for distinctly effective deletion of organic dyes from waste water.