Porous poly(L–lactic acid)/chitosan nanofibres for copper ion adsorption

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2020-01, Vol.227, p.115343, Article 115343
• Main Authors: Zia, Qasim, Tabassum, Madeeha, Lu, Zihan, Khawar, Muhammad Tauseef, Song, Jun, Gong, Hugh, Meng, Jinmin, Li, Zhi, Li, Jiashen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Chitosan; Langmuir model; Porous PLLA nanofibres
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115343

[Display omitted] •Preparation of novel high surface area porous PLLA nanofibrous membrane.•Successful coating of biomaterial adsorbent on supporting nanofibrous membrane.•Mathematical modelling of adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms.•Describe copper ion adsorption mechanism on chitosan. Porous poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibrous membrane with the high surface area was developed by electrospinning and post acetone treatment and used as a substrate for deposition of chitosan. Chitosan was coated onto porous nanofibrous membrane via direct immersion coating method. The porous PLLA/chitosan structure provided chitosan a high surface framework to fully and effectively adsorb heavy metal ions from water and showed higher and faster ion adsorption. The composite membrane was used to eliminate copper ions from aqueous solutions. Chitosan acts as an adsorbent due to the presence of aminic and hydroxide groups which are operating sites for the capture of copper ions. The maximum adsorption capacity of copper ions reached 111.66 ± 3.22 mg/g at pH (7), interaction time (10 min) and temperature (25 °C). The adsorption kinetics of copper ions was established and was well agreed with the second-order model and Langmuir isotherm. Finally, the thermodynamic parameters were studied.