Research article

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Electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber mats (es-PAN nanofiber mats) were surface modified by 2,4-dinitrophenyl-hydrazine (2,4-DNPH) to yield the metal ion adsorption material (es-PAN-DNPH nanofiber mats) and were investigated their adsorption behaviors. Functional modification of the es-PAN nanofiber mats and conventional polyacrylonitrile fibers (c-PAN fibers) were prepared by using 4% (w/v) of 2,4-DNPH in 1,2-ethandiol at 110°C for 6 h to obtained c-PAN-DNPH fibers. The average diameter of the es-PAN-DNPH nanofiber mats was 0.25 µm, which was comparatively smaller than the es-PAN precursor. Their functional groups were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and their adsorption behaviors to trace Ag(I), Bi(III), Ga(III), and In(III) from aqueous solutions and were investigated by the induced couple plasma technique. The FT-IR spectra showed the existence of NN=C–NHNH–, O=C–NHNH–, and –NO₂ functional groups for metal complexes. The adsorption capacities of the obtained es-PAN-DNPH were 7.14 to 36.36% higher than those of c-PAN-DNPH fibers. All adsorption plots onto es-PAN-DNPH nanofiber mats and c-PANDNPH fibers followed the Langmuir isotherm and indicated monolayer adsorption characteristics.