(State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China)
Contamination of water by organic pollutants, bacteria, and toxic metal ions generated from industrial processes is an urgent concern which must be addressed. These organic pollutants and metal ions cannot be digested, naturally. As a result, a great deal of research work in the removal of toxic pollutants from contaminated water has been carried out and some promising results have been achieved. Electrospun nanofibers, especially organicinorganic hybrid nanofibers, have a unique advantage in water purification due to their adjustable fiber diameter, high porosity, high specific area, and high functionalizability, which raises researchers extensive interests. Here, we review the progress of organicinorganic hybrid nanofibrous membranes in terms of pollutant adsorption, bacterial removal, and photodegradation for water purification. The advantages and efficiencies of various organicinorganic hybrid nanofibrous membranes were demonstrated and elucidated, systematically. Future prospects in the developing trends of such membranes for wastewater treatment have been explored.