Fabrication and characterization of electrospun nanofibers infused with hematite nanoparticles for the remediation of heavy metals from aqueous medium

Abstract

Heavy metals pose a significant threat to human health and the environment due to their toxicity and persistence. We have fabricated electrospun nanofibers with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and chitosan (CS), incorporating hematite nanoparticles (HNPs) and used to remove Cr⁶⁺ and Cs⁺ from simulated solutions. The nanofibers were characterized by various techniques and adsorption studies investigated the impact of pH, adsorbent dosage, initial contaminant concentration, and contact time on the removal efficiency of Cr⁶⁺ and Cs⁺. SEM and EDS analyses confirmed the adsorption of both contaminants onto the nanofibers. The maximum adsorption for Cr⁶⁺ was achieved under acidic conditions, while Cs⁺ adsorption was favoured in alkaline environments. Isotherm studies demonstrated that the adsorption process followed both Langmuir and Freundlich models. Additionally, pseudo-kinetic studies indicated that the adsorption mechanism adhered to a second-order kinetic model. The ability of these nanofibers to effectively remove heavy metals from water solutions highlights their potential for environmental remediation applications.