Polyamidoxime/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Composite Chelating Fiber Prepared by Emulsion Spinning and Its Adsorption Properties for Metal Ions

The precursor polyacrylonitrile/poly­(vinyl alcohol) (PAN/PVA) fibers were prepared by emulsion spinning of PAN emulsion with PVA solution. The precursor fibers were then amidoximated to get the polyamidoxime (PAO)/PVA composite chelating fibers. The structures of PAN emulsion particles and composite fiber were studied with a laser mastersizer, scan electronic microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectra, auto-Kjeldahl determination, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Results show that nanosized PAN particles were well-dispersed in PVA fiber matrix through emulsion spinning. Almost all of the PAN particles were amidoximated after treatment. The PAO/PVA fiber has good selectivity to silver ions in a multiple metal ions solution. Its maximum amount of adsorption of silver ions and copper ions were calculated to be 518 and 146 mg g–1 according to the Langmuir model. It also has good mechanical performance with breaking strength, 392.10 MPa, and elongation at break, 30.19%.