Structure and Potential Applications of Polyamide 6/Protein Electro-spun Nano-fibrous Mats in Sorption of Metal Ions and Dyes from Industrial Effluents

Abstract

The main objective of this work is the preparation of nano-fibrous mats (NFM) from polyamide 6 (PA6) reinforced and functionalized by renewable proteinic waste and examining their potential use for the sorption of heavy metal ions and dyes from wastewater from textile plants. Two renewable waste biopolymers; namely keratin (from waste of wool combing) and sericin (from degumming of natural silk) were extracted and regenerated. NFM were prepared by electro-spinning of PA6/ biopolymer composites in formic acid using nozzle-less electro-spinneret. The potential of the prepared mats for sorption of Cr+6, Cr+3, Cu+2, and Pb+2 cations as well as anionic and cationic dyes from wastewater was assessed. The prepared composites were characterized by measuring their viscosity, nano-fibre diameter, pore size, thickness, and air permeability. The morphological structure of the electro-spun NFM was investigated by scanning electron Microscopy. Chemical and physical properties of the obtained mat were studied FTIR, TGA, DSC, and XRD. The capacity of the prepared NFM for sorption of cations and dyes depended on the mat composition and the nature of the adsorbed cation or dye.
 This work meets some environmental and economic demand by extraction of keratin and sericin from waste materials and their utilization in reinforcement of PA6 NFM for sorption of selected cations as well as dyes from textile effluents.

Biopolymer-loaded plasma-mediated multi-functional finishes of polypropylene fabrics

“…Sericin and gelatin have adequate polar groups which can enhance the fabric wettability to a great extent. 39 On the other hand, the presence of a biopolymer layer of sericin or gelatin on the finished fabric surface would lessen air penetration through the fibers. One of the critical points to handle in PP fabric chemistry and technology is its poor antistatic properties which causes bad sensation to the wearer’s skin.…”

“…The affinity of the fabrics towards anionic dyes was used as a tool to confirm creation of amino groups within the polymeric chains and their reaction with amino acid residues of sericin. 39 As shown in Figure 5, untreated PP fibers have no substantivity towards acid dye due to the absence of any appropriate binding sites within the polymeric chains of PP fabrics to bind with anionic moieties of the dye. Irradiation of PP fibers with N 2 -plasma beam created basic nitrogen-containing groups, such as amino group, 25 which render PP acid-dyeable.…”

Influence of Modified Carbon Black on Nylon 6 Nonwoven Fabric and Performance as Adsorbent Material

“…FT-IR spectra of Nylon 6 nonwoven fabric and Ny6 Zytel/CB fabrics are shown in Figure 2 . Absorption bands at 3313 and 1548 cm −1 are attributed to N-H bond stretching, and the last band is typical of secondary amine stretching due to the primary amine change to secondary amine [ 48 , 49 ]. The signal at 1639 cm −1 is assigned to the carbonyl group present in the Nylon 6 structure.…”