Electrospinning of polylactic acid fibers reinforced with Ti3C2 for the removal of nickel ions from wastewater

Abstract

Nickel ions play a crucial role as an essential micronutrient in both human beings and plants. However, the introduction and application of nickel ions augmented with industrialization, outpacing the expertise to access these materials beyond the planetary boundaries, causing nickel toxicity. Thus, the adsorptive removal of Ni2+ is earning ubiquitous significance attributed to the undesirable consequences on the ecosystem. The conceptualization of fabricating a sustainable material system, exterminating the prevailing challenges, thereby truncating the impact on the environment, and eradicating nickel ions from effluents was always a matter of substantial concern. Herein, we have fabricated PLA nano-microfibers via electrospinning technology with various Ti3C2 loading – 0.5, 1, and 3 wt%, introducing more porosity to the system to understand the applicability of these fibrous systems for Ni2+ removal. Incorporating Ti3C2Tx into the PLA matrix helps to fabricate a water-stable system further by increasing the adsorption capacity of PLA to 37.92 mg/g with 0.5 wt% Ti3C2Tx addition. The addition of Ti3C2Tx to the PLA matrix system and the surface morphology of the fabricated nanofiber composite were validated using FT-IR and SEM analysis, respectively. The biodegradable nature of the system was also explored under naturally mimicked conditions using cow dung slurry, where the 0.5 wt% loaded system demonstrated 12 % degradation within 30 days within the slurry. The induced biodegradability of the electrospun fibers, 3–17 % within 33 days, introduces an ideal and easily retrievable system for Ni2+ removal, eradicating potential hazardous effects on the ecosystem.