Polyacrylonitrile/Kaolinite Hybrid Nanofiber Mats Aimed for Treatment of Polluted Water

The present study provides the methods of preparing organic/inorganic hybrid nanofiber mats. A simple process was developed in preparing polyacrylonitrile/kaolinite hybrid nanofiber mats based on electrospinning technology. The electrospinning of sub-nano kaolinite particles-contained PAN suspensions resulted in uniform distribution of kaolinite particles among the PAN nanofibers, which was demonstrated by scanning electron microscope and optical polarized microscope. However, FTIR results indicated that some interactions between PAN and kaolinite existed, which was useful for the stability of kaolinite-contained suspensions and the even distribution of kaolinite in the PAN nanofiber mats. The as-prepared hybrid nanofiber mats may find well applications in the treatment of phenol polluted water and heavy metal polluted water.