Electrospun carbon nanofibers/TiO2-PAN hybrid membranes for effective removal of metal ions and cationic dye

Electrospun (CNFs/TiO2-PAN) hybrid membrane was synthesized using the base polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer with carbon nanofibers (CNF)/TiO2 nanoparticles at different weight percentage (%). SEM images confirmed the formation of PAN nanofiber membrane with diameter ranging from 200 nm to 260 nm after incorporation of CNFs/TiO2 nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed the presence of functional groups confirming the successful incorporation of CNFs/TiO2 in PAN nanofiber membranes. The water contact angle (WCA) of CNFs/TiO2-PAN hybrid membrane decreased from 38° to 18° by addition of different concentration CNFs/TiO2 (0.5 wt% to 6 wt %). The rejection performance of hybrid CNFs/TiO2-PAN membrane was evaluated with different metal ions (such as Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+) and cationic dye (such as methylene blue (MB)) from wastewater. The adsorption studies of the heavy metal ions were performed at different pH (3-7), metal ion concentrations (50 ppm to 300 ppm) and time (48 h). CNFs/TiO2 -PAN hybrid membranes exhibited a maximum rejection around 87%, 73%, 66%, for Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+ metal ions and 84% for methylene blue dye, respectively. The developed electrospun CNFs/TiO2-PAN hybrid membranes could be adopted for the removal of metal ions and dyes from polluted drinking water source.