A novel electro-spun Cu-MOF loaded PAN/cellulose membrane for efficient adsorption-assisted photocatalytic decontamination of bisphenol A: Kinetics, thermodynamics, and mechanistic study

Electrospun membranes have gained attention for wastewater treatment, but pristine nanofiber membranes like Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) often have limited adsorption and photocatalytic efficiency. A hybrid membrane was developed to address this, combining PAN, cellulose, and a metal–organic framework (MOF) to create a multifunctional photocatalytic adsorbent. The membrane was fabricated using an electrospinning process. PAN was infused with copper-based MOF (Cu-MOF), and cellulose was blended with polyethylene oxide (PEO), resulting in an integrated membrane structure. Structural characterization confirmed the uniform distribution and firm adhesion of Cu-MOF to the PAN fibers. The photocatalytic potential of the synthesized membrane was evaluated for the removal of bisphenol A (BPA) from water under visible light irradiation. The PAN/Cellulose nanofiber substrate loaded with 1.0 g of Cu-MOF (PAN/Cell/MOF-III) achieved 98 % removal efficiency. The PAN, PAN/Cell, pristine Cu-MOF, PAN/Cell/MOF-I, PAN/Cell/MOF-II, and PAN/Cell/MOF-III exhibited adsorption capacities of 4.0, 19.9, 69.1, 30.7, 47.4, and 87 mg/g, respectively. The effects of key factors, including membrane dosage, solution pH, and BPA concentration, on the adsorption and degradation efficiency of PAN/Cell/MOF-III were systematically explored. Trapping species and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), studies identified holes (h + ) and superoxide radicals (O 2 − ) as the primary reactive species responsible for BPA degradation. Kinetic analysis revealed degradation followed a pseudo-first-order model, while adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG ads , ΔH ads , ΔS ads ) indicated spontaneous, physical, and endothermic adsorption. The Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models accurately fit the adsorption data. The PAN/Cell/MOF-III membrane showed excellent reusability over five cycles, demonstrating its potential for practical wastewater treatment applications.