The influences of solvents on the electrospun of whole Scenedesmus almeriensis and poly(ethylene oxide) for the preparation of composite nanofibers

Preparation of composite nanofibers by using whole microalgal biomass (Scenedesmus almeriensis) with poly(ethylene oxide) by electrospinning process was explored in presence of different solvents. Diameter and morphology index of the nanofibers were determined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Out of the solvents examined, ethanol, methanol and acetone resulted in better formation of more dense uniform structured composite nanofibers with diameter < 300 nm. Further studies using ethanol as solvent revealed that 10 wt% of biomass with respect to polymer source is suitable for the preparation of composite nanofibers under our studied conditions. The electrospun process was scaled up to 5 times and the SEM results showed on the one hand the formation of beads along with nanofibers and in addition a lower morphology index. Various characterization techniques supported the formation of composite nanofibers from whole Scenedesmus almeriensis and poly(ethylene oxide).