Nanocomposite functionalized membranes based on silica nanoparticles cross-linked to electrospun nanofibrous support for arsenic() adsorption from contaminated underground water

Nanocomposite functionalized membranes were synthesized using surface functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MCM-NH 2 or MCM-PEI) cross-linked to a modified polyacrylonitrile (mPAN) nanofibrous substrate for the removal of 1 mg L −1 of As( v ); a concentration much higher than what has been reported for underground water in Argentina. Adsorption studies were carried out in batch mode at pH 8 with nanoparticles in colloidal form, as well as the nanoparticles supported on the modified PAN membranes (mPAN/MCM-NH 2 and mPAN/MCM-PEI). Results indicate a twenty-fold improvement in As( v ) adsorption with supported nanoparticles (nanocomposite membranes) as opposed to their colloidal form. The adsorption efficiency could be further enhanced by modifying the nanocomposite membrane surface with Fe 3+ (mPAN/MCM-NH 2 -Fe 3+ and mPAN/MCM-PEI-Fe 3+ ) which resulted in more than 95% arsenic being removed within the first 15 minutes and a specific arsenic adsorption capacity of 4.61 mg g −1 and 5.89 mg g −1 for mPAN/MCM-NH 2 -Fe 3+ and mPAN/MCM-PEI-Fe 3+ nanocomposite membranes, respectively. The adsorption characteristics were observed to follow a pseudo-first order behavior. The results suggest that the synthesized materials are excellent for quick and efficient reduction of As( v ) concentrations below the WHO guidelines and show promise for future applications. Development of nanocomposite functionalized membranes for the removal of As( v ) from contaminated water.