Micro-nano structure nanofibrous p-sulfonatocalix[8]arene complex membranes for highly efficient and selective adsorption of lanthanum(iii) ions in aqueous solution

• Published in: RSC advances Vol. 5; no. 27; pp. 21178 - 21188
• Main Authors: Hong, Guishan, Wang, Min, Li, Xiong, Shen, Lingdi, Wang, Xuefen, Zhu, Meifang, Hsiao, Benjamin S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Adsorption; aluminum; amination; Aqueous solutions; aromatic hydrocarbons; calcium; Cationic; copper; equations; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; iron; lanthanum; magnesium; Mathematical analysis; Mats; Membranes; metal ions; nanofibers; Nanostructure; polyacrylonitrile; polyvinylpyrrolidone; potassium; Selective adsorption; sorption isotherms; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 2046-2069; 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ra02423d

In this study, micro-nano structured p -sulfonatocalix[8]arene (calix8) complex membranes prepared by electrostatic adsorbing anionic calix8 onto the cationic nanofibrous mats with micro-nano structure were utilized as an affinity membrane for the selective adsorption of lanthanum( iii ) ions, where the cationic nanofibrous mats were fabricated by wet-electrospinning technique from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solution with the aid of pore-forming agent poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and followed by the amination with diethylene triamine (DETA). The as-prepared nanofibrous calix8 complex membranes were subject to selective adsorption of La( iii ) ions in aqueous solution and showed very high adsorption capacity and selectivity for La 3+ from other metal ions such as Fe 3+ , Al 3+ , Cu 2+ , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and K + . The resultant membranes adsorbed with La( iii ) ions could be desorbed and regenerated successfully without significantly affecting their adsorption capacity. The adsorption data at equilibrium were well fitted to Langmuir isotherm equation with a maximum adsorption capacity of 155.1 mg g −1 for La( iii ) ions. Furthermore, the possible adsorption mechanism of La( iii ) ions onto the calix8 membrane was discussed based on the FTIR and XPS data. This study demonstrated a facile route for highly efficient and selective separation of lanthanide ions from aqueous solutions. In this study, micro-nano structured p -sulfonatocalix[8]arene (calix8) complex membranes for high efficient selective adsorption of La( iii ) ions were prepared via a facile route.