Recent advances in the preparation and applications in separation processes of electrospun nanofiber-based materials

Electrospinning has shown its versatility and feasibility for the fabrication of nanofiber based materials which possess various advantages in separation processes. Electrospun nanofibers exhibited interconnectivity between pores, high specific surface area and ratio of surface area to volume. Therefore, the application of electrospun nanofiber materials in tackling the environmental challenges has drawn great attention in academia and industry. This review provides the current advancement of electrospun nanofiber based materials and applications in separation processes. Firstly, the fundamentals of electrospinning, the key factors of electrospinning process and the characterization methods for nanofibers were introduced. Then the modification methods for electrospun nanofiber-based materials were discussed. Next, the applications of electrospun nanofiber-based materials in separation processes, e.g., water treatment processes, desalination, air filtration, and the separation of biological compounds were comprehensively reviewed and critically discussed. Last but not least, despite the advancements in the fabrication and application of electrospun nanofiber-based materials, the scale-up the electrospun nanofiber production in industry still faces several problems which must be further addressed.