Reducing dissolution of MnO2 nanofibers by doping with ferric ion

MnO2 nanofiber was found to possess high adsorption capacities for heavy metal ions such as, arsenic and lead, in water due to its high specific surface area (SSA) and high surface activity. However, a significant amount of manganese was found to leach from MnO2 nanofibers. Reducing MnO2 dissolution is very important for improving its applications in drinking water treatment. In this study, MnO2 nanofiber was doped with Fe3+ to reduce its dissolution in water. Dissolution tests were conducted on un-doped and Fe-doped MnO2 nanofibers. The results revealed that doping with Fe3+ significantly reduced MnO2 dissolution. SSA and defects of MnO2 materials were analyzed by BET and XRD methods. The effects of Fe3+ on MnO2 dissolution were discussed and the optimal dopant amount was identified.