Electrospinning of polymeric nanofiber (nylon 6,6/graphene oxide) for removal of Cr (VI): synthesis and adsorption studies

Abstract

Polymer nanofibers are valuable materials that are of great importance because they are inexpensive and they display high strength. In this study, nylon-6,6 (N6,6)/graphene oxide (GO) nanofibers were developed and characterized. GO was synthesized from graphene using the known Hummer's method. GO is obtained by reaction of the graphene with strong oxidants and was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The characterizations showed that the graphene was suitably oxidized. GO was added to N6,6 to produce N6,6/GO nanofibers at loadings of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 wt% through the melt mixing method. The batch adsorption model for Cr (VI) adsorption was applied as a function of time, initial Cr (VI) concentration, adsorbent dosage, and pH to examine nanofiber activity. N6,6/GO a exhibited high adsorption capacity for Cr (VI) at pH 2.0. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cr (VI) ion was found to be 47.17 mg/g of N6.6/GO using the related isotherm curves and equations. When the equilibrium data were examined, it was concluded that Langmuir adsorption isotherm was more suitable.