Preparation of Amine-Modified Polyacrylonitrile Fibers: Copper Removalin Aqueous Solution

In this study, Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers were prepared by a simple and effective electrospinning method. Subsequently, the PAN fibers were modified by diethylenetriamine (DETA) to produce aminated polyacrylonitrile (APAN) fibers. Finally, the adsorbability of copper ions on the surface of the fibers was examined in an aqueous solution. The characteristics of APAN fibers were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD); The surface amination was confirmed by FTIR. The adsorption data fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm. Thermodynamic parameters of the adsorption process were calculated. The standard Gibb's free energy change, standard enthalpy change, and standard entropy change was -1.46 KJ/mol, -54.72 kJ/mol, and -178.75 kJ/mol/K, respectively. Furthermore, the results show that adsorption of copper onto APAN fibers were spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The equilibrium adsorption capacity of PAN fibers was only 0.10 mg g(-1) for 10 mg L(-1) of copper solution removal under pH 6 and 298 K. In contrast, the equilibrium adsorption capacity of APAN fibers was 45.05 mg g(-1) under the same conditions. The prepared APAN fibers exhibit high efficiency for Cu(II) removal from Waste water and may be used as a reference for future investigation.