Polymer metal oxide modified clay nanofibrous membranes for decontamination

Abstract

This research focusses on the development of polyacrylonitrile/zinc oxide modified newlinemontmorillonite nanofibrous membranes for the efficient capture of particulate matter from newlineatmosphere as well as decontamination of hexavalent chromium ions from water sources. newlineMontmorillonite clay has been modified with zinc oxide nanoparticles, termed as zinc oxide newlinemodified montmorillonite, using three different raw materials namely zinc oxide newlinenanoparticle, zinc nitrate and aloe vera gel. The particle size of zinc oxide modified newlinemontmorillonite varies from 16 nm to 48 nm. The surface morphology showed the presence newlineof cuboidal shaped zinc oxide nanoparticles over the surface of the flaky shaped newlinemontmorillonite. The modification of montmorillonite to zinc oxide modified newlinemontmorillonite enhanced the thermal stability of montmorillonite. newlinePolyacrylonitrile/Montmorillonite nanofibrous nanocomposites were fabricated using newlineelectrospinning technique with variation in concentration of montmorillonite from 0.25% to newline1.00%. The electrospinning process developed PAN/Mt nanofibrous nanocomposites having newlinereduced fiber diameters and high surface roughness as observed in Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy. The nanocomposite nanofibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction newlineand Thermogravimetric analyzer for intercalation and thermal stability respectively.Electrospun polyacrylonitrile/zinc oxide modified montmorillonite nanofibrous newlinenanocomposites with varying concentrations of zinc oxide modified montmorillonite ranging newlinefrom 0.25% to 1.00% (w/w) were prepared to be used as filtration membranes. The addition newlineof zinc oxide modified montmorillonite to polyacrylonitrile dope solution affects its viscosity and ionic conductivity. The surface morphology of the nanofibrous membranes was studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy. The average diameter of polycrylonitrile nanofibers and its nanocomposites was found to be between 247 nm to 468 nm. The addition of zinc oxide modified montmorillonite and montmorillonite.