Electrospun nanofiber membrane of PEO/Chitosan for the adsorption of nickel, cadmium, lead and copper ions from aqueous solution

Poly ethylene oxide (PEO)/Chitosan nanofiber membrane was prepared by the electrospinning technique; afterward, the potential of the prepared nanofiber membrane for adsorption of nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) from aqueous solution was investigated. The applied voltage, tip-collector distance and solution flow rate of electrospinning process were 20 kV, 13.5 cm and 0.5 mL h−1 respectively. The prepared nanofibers were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Brunauer–Emmert–Teller (BET) analysis. Based on results, the homogeneous electrospun nanofibers with the average diameter and surface area of 98 nm and 312.2 m2 g−1 were obtained respectively. Then, the adsorption experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of different adsorption parameters such as contact time, initial concentration and temperature in a batch system. The sorption selectivity of lead, copper, cadmium and nickel onto the membrane was in order of Pb(II)

► The selectivity adsorption of nanofiber membrane was in order of Pb(II)► The prepared nanofiber membrane was mesoporous.
► The mechanism of adsorption metal ions by the nanofiber membrane was physically.
► The metals adsorption capacity did not change after five sorption–desorption cycles.