Electrospun Fe2O3–Al2O3 nanocomposite fibers as efficient adsorbent for removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution

In this study, Iron oxide–alumina mixed nanocomposite fiber was prepared by electrospinning method and its performance was evaluated as a heavy metal ion adsorbent. Here boehmite nanoparticle was synthesized by sol–gel method and was impregnated in PVP-iron acetylacetonate solution in a ratio of 1:1:2. These boehmite impregnated polymer solution was electrospun to form nanocomposite polymer fiber. The electrospun nanofiber was sintered at 1000 °C for converting it to pure oxide form for further application as adsorbent. Iron oxide–alumina mixed nanocomposite fiber was characterized by UV–vis-DRS, IR, SEM–EDX, TEM, BET and TGA–DTA analytical techniques. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to study the sorption behavior of Cu2+, Pb2+, Ni2+ and Hg2+ ions as a function of initial concentration, contact time and pH. The removal percentage was in the order of Cu2+ < Pb2+ < Ni2+ < Hg2+. The maximum sorption capacities by applying the Langmuir equation were found to be 4.98 mg/g for Cu2+, 32.36 mg/g for Ni2+, 23.75 mg/g for Pb2+ and 63.69 mg/g for Hg2+ ions. The regeneration studies of mixed nanocomposite adsorbents were also reported here.