Composite Membranes Obtained from Synthetic Fiber Waste for the Treatment of Textile Effluents

Water pollution, characterized by the release of harmful substances into water bodies, affects water quality and negatively impacts people, animals, and the environment. Its causes include industrial waste, mining, domestic sewage, and radioactive residues. This study aimed to obtain membranes using the immersion-precipitation method, with pure polyamide 66 (PA66) and PA66 with 5%, 7%, and 10% clay. The membranes were analyzed for water absorption capacity, porosity, average and maximum pore radius, bubble point, contact angle, and water and effluent flows. The addition of clay reduced water absorption and porosity due to the clay’s barrier effect. The bubble point indicated an increase in the maximum pore radius, except with 10% clay due the possible agglomeration formation. The average pore radius increased with the clay percentage, with 5% showing the highest value. Flows decreased over time, but higher clay content improved flows and efficiency, achieving retention above 99.5% for dye particles.