Incorporation of UiO-66-NH2 MOF into the PAN/chitosan nanofibers for adsorption and membrane filtration of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions

[Display omitted] •The UiO-66-NH2 MOF crystal were synthesized by microwave heating method.•The MOFs were incorporated into the PAN/chitosan nanofibers.•The 10 wt.% MOF was optimum content in nanofibers for metal ions adsorption.•The maximum adsorption capacity of nanofiber was 441.2 mgg−1 for Pb(II) ions sorption.•The flux and Pb(II) ions rejection by MOF loaded-nanofibers were 452 Lm-2 h−1 and 94%. In the present study, the UiO-66-NH2 MOF synthesized by microwave heating method was incorporated into the PAN/chitosan nanofibers for the removal of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cr(VI) ions through the adsorption and membrane filtration processes. The synthesized MOFs and nanofibers were characterized using XRD, BET, FTIR, SEM, and DSC analysis. The effect of UiO-66-NH2 MOF content (0–15 wt.%), pH (2–7), contact time(5–90 min), metal ions initial concentration (20–1000 mg/L) and temperature (25–45 °C) was studied on the metal ions adsorption using PAN/chitosan/UiO-66-NH2 nanofibrous adsorbent. The kinetic, isotherm and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated to understand the metal ions adsorption mechanism using nanofibers. The Pseudo-second-order kinetic and Redlich-Peterson isotherm model were well described the experimental sorption data. In the heavy metal ions membrane filtration process, the different parameters such as MOF concentration (2–15 wt.%), membrane thickness (10–70 μm), metal ions concentration (5–50 mg/L), temperature (25–45 °C) and filtration time (1–24 h) were investigated on the performance of PVDF/ PAN/chitosan/UiO-66-NH2 nanofibrous membrane toward metal ions removal. The high water flux and high metal ions removal within 18 h filtration time showed the high potential of PVDF/ PAN/chitosan/UiO-66-NH2 membrane for the removal of metal ions from aqueous solutions.