Title:Removal of Ag and Cr Heavy Metals Using Nanofiber Membranes Functionalized with Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)
VOLUME: 12 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):F. Shahram Forouz, S.A. Hosseini Ravandi and A.R. Allafchian
Affiliation:Department of Textile Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, P.O. Box: 84156-83111, Isfahan, Iran.
Keywords:Adsorption, aminopropyltriethoxysilane, electrospinning, filtering mechanism, heavy metal ions, nanofiber
membranes.
Abstract:Background: The main aim of this study is to investigate the effects of electrospinning and
filtration process parameters such as polymer solution concentration, the initial concentration of metal
solution and the pH of solution on the adsorption of Ag and Cr.
Methods: In this investigation, firstly, nylon 66 nanofiber membranes were prepared by electrospinning
of nylon 66 solution in formic acid/chloroform mixture with the average diameter of 146.68–
760.83 nm. Then, the nanofibers were functionalized with Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) that
had an amine group suitable for metal adsorption due to their high adsorption affinity for heavy metal ions. Silver and
chrome that are two harmful heavy metals were chosen. The cross flow recirculation filtration set–up was employed.
Results: Under optimum condition, the maximum efficiency of the absorption of silver and chrome was 99.97% and
93.06%, respectively. Filtering mechanism of the membrane were blocked the pores and the Freundlich isotherm was
found to well represent the measured adsorption data based on the higher coefficient determination (R2).
Conclusion: The maximum adsorption capacity of Ag and Cr by Freundlich model was 1946.91 and 650.41 mg g-1 respectively,
showing a high capacity to work.
