Polyacrylonitrile support impregnated with amine-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride/magnetite composite...

Recently, novel composite materials are rapidly being explored for water treatment applications. However, their physicochemical behavior and mechanistic investigations are still a mystery. Therefore, our key prospect is to develop a highly stable mixed-matrix adsorbent system using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support impregnated with amine-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride/magnetite (gCN-NH₂/Fe₃O₄) composite nanofibers (PAN/gCN-NH₂/Fe₃O₄: PCNFe) by simple electrospinning techniques. Various instrumental techniques were used to explore the structural, physicochemical, and mechanical behavior of the synthesized nanofiber. The developed PCNFe with a specific surface area of 39.0 m²/g was found to be non-aggregated and to have outstanding water dispersibility, abundant surface functionality, greater hydrophilicity, superior magnetic property, and higher thermal & mechanical characteristics making it favorable for rapid As removal. Based on the experimental findings from the batch study, 97.0 and 99.0 % of arsenite (As(III)) and arsenate (As(V)), respectively, could be adsorbed by utilizing0.02 g of adsorbent dosage within 60 min of contact time at pH 7 and 4, with an initial concentration of 10 mg/L. Adsorption of As(III) and As(V) followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models with an sorption capacities of 32.26 and 33.22 mg/g, respectively, at ambient temperature. The adsorption was endothermic and spontaneous, in accordance with the thermodynamic study. Furthermore, the addition of co-anions in a competitive environment did not affect As adsorption except for PO₄^3-. Moreover, PCNFe preserves its adsorption efficiency above 80 % after five regeneration cycles. The combined results of FTIR and XPS after adsorption further support the adsorption mechanism. Also, the composite nanostructures retain their morphological and structural integrity after the adsorption process. The facile synthesis protocol, high As adsorption capacity, and enhanced mechanical integrity of PCNFe foreshadow its huge prospects for real wastewater treatment.