Preparation and characterization of magnetic nanofibrous composite membranes with catalytic activity

Magnetic nanofibrous composite membranes were electrospun from the mixtures of poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) (PANCAA) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the composite membranes. TGA results indicate that the addition of Fe3O4 nanoparticles catalyzes the carbonization of PANCAA as well as dramatically increases the carbonization temperature. The intrinsic peroxidase-like activity of Fe3O4 nanoparticles was measured by the color reaction of phenol/4-amino antipyrine in the presence of H2O2. Under optimal conditions, the electrospun composite membranes show high peroxidase-like catalytic activity and reusability. Taking into account of the potentiality for separation, these as-prepared magnetic nanofibrous composite membranes will be applied in phenolic wastewater treatment.