Removal of cadmium using electrospun nanofibers

The present study reports on the capability of CTA / Aliquat 336 electrospun fibers in extracting Cd(II) from aqueous phase. The CTA/Aliquat 336 electrospun fibers were produced by electrospun a polymer solution containing CTA and Aliquat 336 in DMC and methanol with a ratio of 8:2 respectively. The effect of different Aliquat 336 concentration on the performance of Cd(II) removal was examined. Extraction experiment was conducted in a batch mode using 5 ppm of Cd(II) in 1 M HCl solution. Results showed that the extraction of Cd(II) increased as Aliquat 336 concentration increased. Morphology structure of the CTA / Aliquat 336 electrospun fibers were also carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). (paper)