ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Reusable and sustainable polycaprolactone nanofiber mats immobilized with mixed microbial culture to remove reactive dye from synthetic wastewater

Seda Sen, İmre Tuzun, Nalan Oya San Keskin, and Nur Koçberber Kiliç

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye

E-mail: nalan.san@hbv.edu.tr

Received: 15 October 2024  Accepted: 27 December 2025

Abstract:

The increasing discharge of dye-containing industrial wastewater has increased the demand for microorganisms with sustainable bioremediation potential. Due to their high surface area and structural versatility, nanofibers act as effective carrier matrices for microbial immobilization, providing a promising approach for pollutant removal. In this study, the highest removal of the mixed culture obtained from Red Water (Denizli) for 3 reactive dyestuffs (Setazol Black B, Setazol Blue BRF-X, Setazol Navy Blue SBG) was determined, and the optimum conditions for removal were investigated. The highest removal (90.3%) was achieved in BG11 containing 9.3 mg/L SNB. The highest SNB removal was observed at pH 8 (%97.3; 9.0 mg/L SNB). Removal increased when the biomass concentration increased doubled (85.3–90.3%). SNB removal in 200-, 400-, and 800-mL synthetic wastewaters were 60%, 67.3%, and 51.7% at concentrations of 9.9 mg/L, 10.4 mg/L, and 9.9 mg/L SNB, respectively. The mixed culture was immobilized on polycaprolactone nanofiber mats (PCL-NFM) to produce sustainable filter. Scanning Electron Microscopy images confirmed immobilization of microorganisms on PCL-NFM. Reusability trials demonstrated that PCL-NFM immobilized with microorganisms can be reused at least 5 times (33.7%). Microorganism-immobilized PCL-NFMs maintained their bioremoval after 3 and 7 days of storage. The highest removal was 36.3% in 3 day-stored mats, and 35.6% in 7 day-stored mats. Results indicate that the tested innovative PCL-NFM immobilized with mixed microbial culture is portable, eco-friendly, cost-efficient, and promising bionanosorbent for nanoremediation applications. Due to its reusability, this nanosorbent has been evaluated as a novel, sustainable, potential treatment agent for wastewater.

Graphical abstract

The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Keywords: Mixed microbial culture; Polycaprolactone nanofiber; Textile dye; Synthetic wastewater; Nanoremediation

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04631-2

Chemical Papers 80 (4) 3537–3550 (2026)