ZnO-PLLA Nanofiber Nanocomposite for Continuous Flow Mode Purification of Water from Cr(VI)

Nanomaterials of ZnO-PLLA nanofibers have been used for the adsorption of Cr(VI) as a prime step for the purification of water.The fabrication and application of the flexible ZnO-PLLA nanofiber nanocomposite as functional materials in this well-developedarchitecture have been achieved by growing ZnO nanorod arrays by chemical bath deposition on synthesized electrospun poly-Llactidenanofibers. The nanocomposite material has been tested for the removal and regeneration of Cr(IV) in aqueous solutionunder a “continuous flow mode” by studying the effects of pH, contact time, and desorption steps.Theadsorption of Cr(VI) speciesin solution was greatly dependent upon pH. SEM micrographs confirmed the successful fabrication of the ZnO-PLLA nanofibernanocomposite.Theadsorption and desorption of Cr(VI) species were more likely due to the electrostatic interaction between ZnOand Cr(VI) ions as a function of pH.The adsorption and desorption experiments utilizing the ZnO-PLLAnanofiber nanocompositehave appeared to be an effective nanocomposite in the removal and regeneration of Cr(VI) species.QC 20160111