Application of chitosan/polyacrylamide nanofibres for removal of chromate and phosphate in water

► Chitosan/polyacrylamide nanofibre had adsorption capacity 0.26 and 392 mg/g for Cr(VI) and PO43-. ► Removal efficiencies of 93% and 97.4% for Cr(VI) and PO43- respectively, in water samples. ► Chromium(VI) and phosphate adsorption showed pseudo-second-order kinetics. ► Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) at the surface of the sorbent during regeneration. ► Conversion of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) reduces toxicity of chromium(VI) in water.