Synthesis and characterisation of diglycolic acid functionalised polyethylene terephthalate nanofibers for rare earth elements recovery. Issue 5 (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pereao, O.; Laatikainen, K.; Bode-Aluko, C.; Fatoba, O.; Omoniyi, E.; Kochnev, Y.; Nechaev, A.N.; Apel, P.; Petrik, L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental chemical engineering. Volume 9:Issue 5(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Adsorption -- Diglycolic acid -- Electrospinning -- Nanofiber -- Polyethylene terephthalate, Rare-earth elements; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects; Environmental engineering; Periodicals; 660.0286
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2021.105902
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2213-2929

Abstract

Abstract: The big advantage of functionalised nanofibers is their fast adsorption kinetics and considerable interest is currently devoted to developing nanofiber adsorbents for rapid sorption of metal ions. Polyethylene terephthalate nanofibers (PET-nf) functionalised with diglycolic anhydride ligand (PET-DGAnf) were prepared using a simple one-step reaction route. The surface characterisation of the synthesised PET-DGAnf adsorbents was performed using HR-SEM, XRD, TGA, BET, WCA and ATR-FTIR. The electrospinning optimisation was described by response surface methodology (RSM) and the collector distance was statistically significant to describe the production of nanofibers at optimum conditions. The average fiber diameter and the RSM analysis predicted values (113.6 nm) were in good agreement. Experiments in batch mode investigated factors such as the role of pH, solution concentration and contact time to evaluate their application for neodymium (Nd 3+ ) and cerium (Ce 3+ ) adsorption. The maximum PET-DGAnf adsorption capacity using the Langmuir model equation was 135.9 and 123.7 mg/g for Ce 3+ and Nd 3+ respectively and the equilibrium adsorption was attained within 5 min. The PET-DGAnf demonstrated good selectivity for Ce 3+ in the presence of contending ions like Sr 2+, Ni 2+ and Co 2+ ions after four successive adsorption and desorption assessments, and the desorption rate of Ce 3+ and Nd 3+ was maintained at more than 90% of their adsorption abilities. The PET-DGAnf nanofibers may provide a promising adsorbent for metal adsorption based on their fast binding kinetics and the high selectivity in recovering REE ions from aqueous solution. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: Polyethylene terephthalate nanofiber mats were produced via electrospinning. PET nanofiber was modified by diglycolic anhydride ligand to improve REE adsorption. Adsorption capacities of PET-DGAnf for Ce 3+ and Nd 3+ ions are 136 and 124 mg/g. The Nd 3+ and Ce 3+ ions adsorption equilibrium was reached in 5 mins.