Electrospun AOPAN/RC blend nanofiber membrane for efficient removal of heavy metal ions from water

[Display omitted] •Electrospun AOPAN/RC blend nanofiber was prepared and studied as innovative carrier for adsorption of metal ions.•The membrane’s adsorption amount of Fe(III), Cu(II) and Cd(II) ions reached 7.47, 4.26 and 1.13mmol/g, respectively.•The adsorption equilibrium was obtained within 5, 20, and 60min for Fe(III), Cu(II) and Cd(II) ions, respectively.•The electrospun AOPAN/RC blend nanofiber membrane has excellent regeneration capability. In this study, an innovative nano-material was prepared, which was ultilized to removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater. Polyacrylonitrile/cellulose acetate (PAN/CA) composite nanofibrous membranes were generated by the electronspinning technique first, and then amidoxime ployarcylonitrile/regenerate cellulose (AOPAN/RC) composite nanofibrous membranes were prepared by combining hydrolysis and amidoximation modification. The modification of composite nanofibers (AOPAN/RC) were consequently used in heavy metal ions adsorption. The characterizations of various different nanofibers were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, surface area and pore size distribution analyzer and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Meantime, the adsorption equilibrium studies were studied. In addition, the saturation adsorption amount of nanofibrous membranes (at 25°C) for Fe(III), Cu(II) and Cd(II) of 7.47, 4.26 and 1.13mmolg−1, respectively. The effects of pH value of solution, adsorption time and ions concentration on adsorption capacity were also investigated. Furthermore, the composite nanofibrous membranes after five times consecutive adsorption and desorption tests, the desorption rate of the Fe(III), Cu(II) and Cd(II) mental ions maintained more than 80% of their first desorption rate, AOPAN/RC composite nanofibrous reflected excellent resuability.