In-situ thermal crosslinked PA66/β-cyclodextrin/PA66 nanofibrous membranes with high mechanical strength for removal of heavy metal ions by flow through adsorption

Abstract β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) based materials have been studied widely as adsorbents and filter membranes for removing pollutants in air or water applications. The present study aimed to develop a sandwich structure of eletrospun nanofibrous membrane based on β-cyclodextrin and PA66 to achieve the high mechanical strength and flow-through adsorption of heavy metal ions in water. The surface and cross section morphology of PA66/β-cyclodextrin/PA66 nanofibrous membranes (PA66/β-CD/PA66 NMs) were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The physicochemical and mechanical properties of PA66/β-CD/PA66 NMs were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric (TG) analysis and universal testing machine. The diameter of β-CD and PA66 electrospun fibers are 300–400 nm and 20–40 nm respectively. PA66/β-CD/PA66 NMs show a loosely arranged fibers and layer by layer structure. The tensile strength increases remarkably for PA66/β-CD/PA66 NMs, from 1.33 MPa of β-CD NMs to 23.17 MPa and the Young's modulus increases from 34.8 MPa to 253.3 MPa. The mechanical behavior of PA66/β-CD/PA66 NMs is a typical brittle fracture, and its microcosmic fracture diagrams are also involved. TGA/DSC results confirm the thermal crosslinking reaction is effective and complete. On the basis of SEM, DSC, TG and mechanical behavior analysis results, the molecular mechanism of in situ thermal crosslinking reaction is discussed. Fe3+、Ni2+ were used to confirm the ability to absorb heavy metal ions of PA66/β-CD/PA66 NMs. In conclusion, PA66/β-CD/PA66 NMs could be a promising solution for removal of metal ions by flow-through adsorption.