Surface-Functionalized Polymer Fibers for Highly Efficient Removal of Metal Ions from Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Lots of various techniques are applied to remove heavy metal ions from the environment. Adsorption method is well known as a very simple and economic technique. Herein, we reviewed the effective functionalization and modification of polyacrylonitrile fibers which be used as adsorbents for efficient adsorption and selective removal of metal ions from aqueous solution. Polyacrylonitrile fibers are known as good adsorbents due to its large surface and fluffy structure as well as excellent weatherability and stability for general chemicals. The cyano group in polyacrylonitrile molecule can be easily modified with various designed fuctionalized chemicals with special chelating groups according to application field. In this review, we summarized the general modification methods, adsorption techniques, effect of pH, initial concentration of ions, effect of contact time and desorption or recovery of polyacrylonitrile fibers. A large kind of metal ions including Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Hg(II), Fe(III), Ag(I), Zn(II), Cr(III), Cr(VI), Cd(II), Pt(II) and Pd(II) are all recorded.