INVESTIGATION OF USE IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT OF NANOFIBERS OBTAINED FROM OSAGE ORANGE FRUIT

Abstract

The aim of this study was to prepare electrospun chitosan-based nanofiber mats and to incorporate the fruit extracts of Osage Orange (Madura Pomifera) into the mats. Chitosan-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid/polyvinyl alcohol (CS-EDTA/PVA) was selected as the polymers. The osage orange extracts with 3 wt% were incorporated into the CS-EDTA/PVA solution and electrospun to obtain nanofibers. The morphology and diameters of the mats were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The chemical bonding properties were investigated by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Finally, the sorption potential of Osage Orange loaded nanofibers for the removal of common metallic pollutants, cadmium (Cd2+), cobalt (Co2+), copper (Cu2+), nickel (Ni2+) and lead (Pb2+) was also investigated. The results indicated that the diameters of the fibers were on the nanoscale and that no crystals of the extract were observed in the mats. Osage Orange loaded chitosan based nanofiber adsorbent presented good absorption capacity for all tested metals ranged between 29-34%. In conclusion, our experiments demonstrated that biomaterials composed of osage orange loaded CS EDTA nanofibers have a potential adsorbent for heavy metal.