Effect of the Morphological Characteristic and Composition of Electrospun Polyvinylidene Fluoride/Graphene Oxide Membrane on Its Pb2+ Adsorption Capacity

• Published in: Macromolecular research Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 124 - 135
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Thuy Thi Thu, Nguyen, Huu The, Trinh, Hai Thi, Bui, Trang Thi Thu, Le, Anh-Tuan, Huy, Tran Quang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Polymer Society of Korea 01-02-2022; Springer Nature B.V; 한국고분자학회
• Subjects: Adsorption; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Composition; Contact angle; Diameters; Electrospinning; Fluorides; Fourier transforms; Graphene; Heavy metals; Hydrophobicity; Infrared spectroscopy; Membranes; Morphology; Nanochemistry; Nanotechnology; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Polyvinylidene fluorides; Raman spectroscopy; Soft and Granular Matter; Spectrum analysis; Surface chemistry; 고분자공학; graphene oxide; polyvinylidene fluoride fibres; electrospun membrane; adsorption; lead removal
• ISSN: 1598-5032; 2092-7673
• DOI: 10.1007/s13233-022-0012-1

In this study, the Pb
2+
adsorption capacity of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride/graphene oxide (PVDF/GO) membranes with different morphological characteristics and compositions were comprehensively compared. Firstly, the chemical characteristics, morphological characteristics and hydrophobicity relating to the adsorption capacity of electrospun PVDF/GO membranes were investigated through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and water contact angle measurement. Adsorption analysis showed that the adsorption performance of electrospun PVDF/GO increased as GO contents increased. Variations in the average diameter of electrospun PVDF/GO fibres in the range of several micrometres did not cause a distinguishable change in their adsorption capacity. Electrospun PVDF/GO membranes without a porous structure inhibited a low adsorption capacity although they contained a high composition of GO. The modification of electrospun PVDF/GO membranes by adding PEG increased the distribution of GO on the surface of fibres, resulting in a more hydrophilic fibre surface and a notable increase in Pb
2+
adsorption. The adsorption behaviour of Pb
2+
onto electrospun PVDF/GO/PEG membranes was found to be dependent on contact time and pH. Reusability analysis indicated that the electrospun PVDF/GO/PEG membrane maintained a Pb
2+
removal rate of over 80% after six adsorption-desorption cycles. Therefore, electrospun PVDF/GO/PEG membranes might be a promising adsorption material used in filtration systems for heavy metal removal.