Synthesis of Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles on Polyester Non-Woven Fabric Using Green Chemistry Method for Wastewater Treatment in the Textile Dyeing Industry ☆

Wastewater from the dyeing process is causing serious issues for the ecosystem and humans. Zero-valent iron nanoparticles have been proven as a promising material for environmental treatment through numerous previous studies. In this research, green-synthesized zero-valent iron nanoparticles were obtained from the leaf extract of the Cleistocalyx operculatus. These nanoparticles were then applied onto polyester non-woven fabric with alginate coating on the fabric surface. The modified polyester non-woven fabric with alginate and zero-valent iron nanoparticles (PET/Alginate/nZVI), alginate-coated polyester non-woven fabric (PET/Alginate), and the original polyester non-woven fabric (PET) were evaluated for morphology and structure using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The capability of removing the organic dye Rhodamine B was assessed through UV-Vis spectroscopy. The influence of iron dosage, solution concentration, and solution pH on the dye removal capacity of the material was investigated. Results show that the material has been successfully synthesized for high-performance removal of Rhodamine B dye with an efficiency of 98% after 10 minutes of treatment, and it can be reused multiple times with an efficiency of over 70%.