Effects of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) content on preparation of novel thiol-functionalized mesoporous PVA/SiO2 composite nanofiber membranes and their application for adsorption of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution

Thiol-functionalized mesoporous poly (vinyl alcohol)/SiO2 composite nanofiber membranes and pure PVA nanofiber membranes were synthesized by electrospinning. The results of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) indicated that the PVA/SiO2 composite nanofibers were functionalized by mercapto groups via the hydrolysis polycondensation. The surface areas of the PVA/SiO2 composite nanofiber membranes were >290 m2/g. The surface areas, pore diameters and pore volumes of PVA/SiO2 composite nanofibers decreased as the PVA content increased. The adsorption capacities of the thiol-functionalized mesoporous PVA/SiO2 composite nanofiber membranes were greater than the pure PVA nanofiber membranes. The largest adsorption capacity was 489.12 mg/g at 303 K. The mesoporous PVA/SiO2 composite nanofiber membranes exhibited higher Cu2+ ion adsorption capacity than other reported nanofiber membranes. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity of the PVA/SiO2 composite nanofiber membranes was maintained through six recycling processes. Consequently, these membranes can be promising materials for removing, and recovering, heavy metal ions in water.