From Fabrication to Application: Electrospun Chitosan/PVA Nanofiber Films for Water and Wastewater Treatment

Water contamination poses serious risks to ecosystems and human health, prompting the need for efficient and sustainable treatment technologies. Conventional physical, chemical, and biological methods remain limited by high cost, low selectivity, or secondary pollution. Biopolymer-based nanofiber adsorbents, particularly those made from chitosan (CS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), have gained increasing attention for their biodegradability and versatility. This review highlights electrospinning as an effective method for producing CS/PVA nanofiber films with nanoscale diameters and ultrathin structures, which are difficult to achieve via conventional casting. The section mainly explores how key fabricating factors – like polymer concentration, voltage, and flow rate – directly impact the structure and quality of electrospun fibers. Moreover, many recent developments have integrated functional materials into CS/PVA nanofiber films through electrospinning, aiming to enhance their effectiveness in treating contaminated water. Electrospun CS/PVA nanofiber films show great promise as an eco-friendly solution for sustainable water purification. In this review, the studies mentioned provide a diverse perspective and highlight key fabricating and modifying factors surrounding this sustainable material, offering meaningful contributions to the advancement of the field.