A Co2+ adsorbent was prepared using electrospun porous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers, featuring easy recovery for reuse compared with a nanoparticle-based adsorbent. As an efficient ligand for Co2+, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was introduced on the surface of porous PAN nanofibers with the aid of a branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) linker to obtain an adsorbent with carboxylic acid groups. On the adsorbent surface, the carboxylic acid and amine groups from EDTA could adsorb Co2+ via ion exchange and chelation, and amine groups from PEI that remained after EDTA functionalization played a role in coordinating Co2+. The amine and carboxylic acid groups were simultaneously involved in the adsorption on the surface, making it possible to remove Co2+ over a wide pH range. An investigation of the adsorption isotherms and kinetics of the nanofibrous adsorbent indicated that monolayer chemisorption was achieved with a maximum Co2+ adsorption capacity of 8.32 mg/g. In addition, radioactive 60Co was efficiently removed by the adsorbent with a removal extent of more than 98%. Considering the easy separation from Co2+ solution and regeneration of the nanofibrous adsorbent and its availability in a wide pH range, the adsorbent has great advantages in practical applications.
Keywords: Electrospinning; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Polyethyleneimine; Porous polyacrylonitrile nanofibers; Radioactive (60)Co adsorbent.
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