A highly hydrophilic water-insoluble nanofiber composite as an efficient and easily-handleable adsorbent for the rapid adsorption of cesium from radioactive wastewater

Abstract

Herein, we report a new Prussian blue nanoparticle (PBNPs) incorporated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite nanofiber (c-PBNPs/PVA) for the rapid adsorption of cesium (C_s) from radioactive wastewater. Initially, various electrospinning parameters such as solvent, PVA wt%, PBNPs wt% and glutaraldehyde (GA) wt% were extensively optimized to obtain a better physicochemical property of the c-PBNPs/PVA. In order to improve the water insoluble nature of the PVA, post cross-linking was carried out for the c-PBNPs/PVA using glutaraldehyde (GA) and HCl vapor as the cross-linker and catalyst, respectively. SEM images revealed the smooth and continuous morphology of the c-PBNPs/PVA composite nanofibers with diameters of 200–300 nm and lengths up to several millimeters. TEM images confirmed homogeneous dispersion and good incorporation of PBNPs into the PVA matrix. The amorphous nature of the c-PBNPs/PVA was confirmed by the XRD analysis. FT-IR spectra showed successful cross-linking of PVA with GA. It was found that the prepared composite nanofiber is highly hydrophilic and water-insoluble. The c-PBNPs/PVA showed an excellent and faster C_s adsorption rate of 96% after only 100 min. These results are comparable to those previously reported. After the C_s adsorption test, the c-PBNPs/PVA composite nanofiber can be easily separated from the wastewater.