Eco‐friendly fabrication of cellulose‐derived polyvinylidene fluoride membranes from wastepaper for efficient Fe( <scp>II</scp> ) removal from mine wastewater

Abstract This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing cellulose membranes derived from wastepaper to remove Fe(II) ions from mine wastewater. In this context, the recycled material cellulose was employed in the membrane synthesis process to produce an environmentally friendly membrane that efficiently removes Fe(II) ions. Furthermore, the study proposes a cost‐effective and sustainable solution for removing heavy metals, with comprehensive analysis and experimentation on the potential application of cellulose membranes in the treatment of mine wastewater. The membranes were fabricated from polyvinylidene fluoride (C₂H₂F₂) n (PVDF) and cellulose nanoparticles (CNs) produced from wastepaper by a common phase inversion method. Water filtration and Fe(II) rejection tests were operated on a batch scale. The fabricated CNs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and SEM–energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analyses. Water permeability, contact angle, SEM–EDX analysis and FTIR were used to analyze PVDF/CN membranes. The water flux for PVDF and PVDF + CN membranes increased from 164.5 to 2241 L m −2 h −1 on the addition of CNs from 1% to 3%. The experimental results demonstrate the best cellulose membrane containing 11% PVDF + 2% CN effectively removed approximately 58% of Fe(II). The findings of this research emphasize the importance of environmentally friendly approaches in addressing clean water challenges and highlight the reuse potential of waste materials for innovative applications. Consequently, this study provides an alternative to the development of sustainable and cost‐effective solutions for wastewater treatment in accordance with the principles of circular economy and environmental sustainability. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.