Abstract
Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been extensively studied for a broad range of applications because of their ease of synthesis and chemical modifications. The chemical and crystal structure of LDH provides opportunities of combination with polymers forming nanocomposites. In the current study, MgAl-LDH particulates have been incorporated into micro- and nanofibers of polystyrene (PS) using an electrospinning processing technique of their respective homogeneous solutions. The effect of the varying proportions of LDH and PS on the structure, morphology, and thermal properties of the fabricated LDH-PS fibrous membranes has been investigated. The potential application of the optimally fabricated LDH-PS fibrous membranes in the removal of Cd2+ ions from aqueous media has been evaluated as well. Results showed the possibility of loading the PS fibrous membranes with up to 60 wt% of LDH particulates, which in turn modified the thermal stability and integrity of the produced fibrous membranes. Due to the high hydrophobicity of the PS fibrous matrix, no changes in the crystal structure of the LDH inclusions were observed. Both as-prepared LDH particulates and optimally prepared LDH-PS fibrous membranes showed a high potential for the removal of Cd2+ ions from aqueous media. This is attributed to a cation-exchange mechanism involving the adsorption of Cd2+ ions from a solution with the preferential leakage of Al3+ ions from the crystal structure of LDH.
Highlights
The concept of improving the distinctive features of conventional polymers, such as mechanical strength, biodegradability, thermal stability, and hydrophobic nature, fuels the research interest in developing polymer-based composites using particulate additives of various sizes [1,2,3]
Diffraction peaks of MgAl-Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were confirmed by the lamellar indices (003), (006), (009), and (110), whereas peaks observed at 2θ values of 11.3°, 22.8°, 34.5°, and 55.5° determine the molecular arrangements of the metallic centers of the layered structure, Mg/Al (3 : 1)
The current findings indicate the potential of fibrous membranes containing LDH to exchange its cations with Cd2+ in aqueous media that are highly contaminated with Cd2+ ions, in what is known as waste water
Summary
The concept of improving the distinctive features of conventional polymers, such as mechanical strength, biodegradability, thermal stability, and hydrophobic nature, fuels the research interest in developing polymer-based composites using particulate additives of various sizes (macroscale to nanoscale) [1,2,3]. The structure of the polymeric matrix and the filler dictates the properties and applications of the fabricated composites. Among the known inorganic fillers, the addition of layered double hydroxide (LDH) to a polymer widens the scope of the applications of the produced composites. Understanding the functional properties of LDH within various polymer matrices will contribute to improving the biodegradability, thermal resistance, and functionality of the resulting LDH-polymer composites [11, 12].
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