Selective Adsorption of Nickel Ions by Electrospun Nanofiber Membrane from Aqueous Solution

In recent years, the contamination of surface and underground water resources with Nickel ions has become a major environmental issue, which has attracted much more attention to build up and execute the different methods for removing nickel ions from water. In our research, PAN nanofiber membrane was prepared by electrospinning method, in which tip to collector distance, applied voltage and solution flow rate of electrospinning process was 13cm, 12KV and 0.5ml/hr respectively. The produced electospun nanofiber membrane was used for the adsorption process to remove nickel ions from aqueous solution. The produced nanofibers will be characterized by the measurements such as: - Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-RAY Diffraction(XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The adsorption of nickel ions from aqueous solution on PAN nanofibers was examined in batch system. The effects of the solution pH, initial metal concentration, contact time and dosage of the adsorbent during adsorption method were examined. The maximum removal of nickel ions from water was 98% at optimum values that were 30 mg mass of neat PAN nanofibers, pH-7 and contact time 90 minutes.