Modified Electro-spun Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanofibers Used as Super Adsorbing Material for Lead Ions in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers (PVA) and novel polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers incorporated with cobalt metal organic framework (PVA/Co-MOF) sorbents were produced via electrospinning. The produced nanofibers were confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). SEM images showed consistent and beads free nanofibers were synthesized. FTIR spectra’s exhibited shifts in critical functional groups positions thus it confirmed that there was a given amount of cobalt metal organic frameworks implanted in the incorporated nanofibers. TGA plots also confirmed that PVA/MOF nanofibers exhibited higher decomposition temperatures than that of the pure polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers. Therefore, it affirmed the amalgamation between cobalt metal organic frameworks and polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers. The ability of PVA and novel PVA/Co-MOF nanofibers to remove Pb2+ ions from solution was investigated. The sorption Pb2+ ions on incorporated nanofibers (novel PVA/Co-MO) were two-fold as compared to the pure polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers. The thermodynamic parameters: Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) and apparent enthalpy (ΔH°) showed that the adsorption Pb2+ ions onto the electro-spun nanofibers were spontaneous and exothermic.