Structure and Potential Applications of Polyamide 6/Protein Electro-spun Nano-fibrous Mats in Sorption of Metal Ions and Dyes from Industrial Effluents

Abstract

The main objective of this work is the preparation of nano-fibrous mats (NFM) from polyamide 6 (PA6) reinforced and functionalized by renewable proteinic waste and examining their potential use for the sorption of heavy metal ions and dyes from wastewater from textile plants. Two renewable waste biopolymers; namely keratin (from waste of wool combing) and sericin (from degumming of natural silk) were extracted and regenerated. NFM were prepared by electro-spinning of PA6/ biopolymer composites in formic acid using nozzle-less electro-spinneret. The potential of the prepared mats for sorption of Cr⁺⁶, Cr⁺³, Cu⁺², and Pb⁺² cations as well as anionic and cationic dyes from wastewater was assessed. The prepared composites were characterized by measuring their viscosity, nano-fibre diameter, pore size, thickness, and air permeability. The morphological structure of the electro-spun NFM was investigated by scanning electron Microscopy. Chemical and physical properties of the obtained mat were studied FTIR, TGA, DSC, and XRD. The capacity of the prepared NFM for sorption of cations and dyes depended on the mat composition and the nature of the adsorbed cation or dye.

This work meets some environmental and economic demand by extraction of keratin and sericin from waste materials and their utilization in reinforcement of PA6 NFM for sorption of selected cations as well as dyes from textile effluents.