DEVELOPMENT OF BIO-POLYMERIC DEVICES FOR REMOVAL OF POLLUTANTS FROM AIR, WATER AND SOIL

Environmental pollution, including air, water, and soil contamination, represents a critical challenge to public health and ecological balance. This thesis investigates the development of bio-polymeric devices for pollutant removal across these three environmental media, employing biodegradable polymers such as PLA and Mater-Bi®, enriched with vegetal and animal waste fillers. Through advanced fabrication techniques, including electrospinning, solution blow spinning, and 3D printing, bio-composite membranes and 3D devices were engineered to remove specific pollutants.Air pollution was addressed by developing fibrous composites membranes, enriched with vegetal or animal derived fillers, for particulate matter filtration, achieving high efficiency. For water remediation, porous membranes and 3D fibrous structures demonstrated the capability to adsorb dyes,oils, and greases, offering sustainable solutions for wastewater treatment. Soil pollution was mitigated through green composites designed to absorb heavy metals while promoting soil fertility via controlled fertilizer release. Comprehensive material characterization, pollutant removal performanceevaluation, and reusability tests underscored the effectiveness of these bio-composites. This research not only contributes to sustainable environmental remediation but also exemplifies the integration of biodegradable materials and biomass into advanced engineering applications, aligning with circular economy principles.