Fabrication of polyacrylonitrile/polypyrrole nanofibrous mat and its adsorption to the cationic yellow dye

Abstract

Electrospun polyacrylonitrile membrance was treated with pyrrole and ferric chloride in situ polymerization method. A polyacrylonitrile/polypyrrole (PAN/PPY) nanofibrous mat was fabricated and used in the adsorption of cationic yellow dye. The nanofibrous mat was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal gravity (TG). The results showed that the polypyrrole was formed and deposited on the nano polyacrylonitrile fiber evenly. PAN/PPY mat was used as adsorbents for the removal of cationic yellow dye in aqueous solution. Adsorption results indicated that the adsorption capacity increased with the increase in initial dye concentration and adsorption time and temperature. Adsorption kinetics analysis showed the adsorption process can be described using the pseudo-second-order model. Isotherm data were in best agreement with the Nernst isotherm model. Thermodynamic analysis suggested that the adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous in nature.