Nanofiber Membranes for Heavy Metal Ion Adsorption

Nanofibre membranes represent a cutting-edge platform for selective removal of toxic metal ions from water and effluents. Their ultrafine dimensions confer a large specific surface area and an interconnected porous network, facilitating rapid mass transfer and high adsorption capacity. Fabrication techniques—most notably electrospinning—enable precise control over fibre diameter, porosity and surface chemistry. Functionalisation strategies introduce chelating groups, metal-binding ligands or embedded nanoparticles, which enhance affinity and selectivity for target ions such as lead, cadmium and chromium. Advances in membrane architecture, including bilayer assemblies and hierarchical stacking, further optimise mechanical strength and regeneration performance. As demand grows for sustainable water treatment technologies, these nanofibre systems demonstrate promise for integration into continuous-flow modules and multifunctional remediation units capable of simultaneous pollutant capture and catalytic degradation.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated the integration of biogenic silver nanoparticles into sulfonated polyethersulfone/polyethersulfone electrospun membranes. These materials achieved rapid and efficient sequestration of lead and cadmium ions at neutral pH, with maximum adsorption capacities exceeding 370 mg g⁻¹ for lead and 625 mg g⁻¹ for cadmium. Equilibrium was reached within an hour, and the membranes retained over 90 % of their performance after multiple adsorption–desorption cycles. Computational investigations using density functional theory elucidated the binding energetics, revealing preferential coordination sites that guide further optimisation of nanoparticle loading and polymer composition.

Nanofiber Membranes for Heavy Metal Ion Adsorption publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanofiber membranes for heavy metal ion adsorption across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Electrospinning: A technique that applies a high-voltage electric field to a polymer solution or melt, producing continuous ultrafine fibres with high surface-to-volume ratio.

Functionalisation: Chemical modification of a fibre surface to introduce specific binding sites for coordination of metal ions.

Langmuir isotherm: A model describing monolayer adsorption onto a homogeneous surface with a finite number of identical sites.

Pseudo-second-order kinetics: A kinetic model assuming that chemisorption is the rate-limiting step, involving electron sharing or exchange between adsorbent and adsorbate.

Adsorption capacity: The maximum quantity of metal ions that an adsorbent can capture per unit mass at equilibrium.

References

1. Preparation and Characterization of Chitosan/TiO2 Composite Membranes as Adsorbent Materials for Water Purification. Membranes (2022).
2. Electrospun Bilayer PAN/Chitosan Nanofiber Membranes Incorporated with Metal Oxide Nanoparticles for Heavy Metal Ion Adsorption. Coatings (2020).
3. Aminated Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Nanofibers for the Selective Removal of Pb(II) from Polluted Water. Materials (2017).
4. Ag nanoparticles immobilized sulfonated polyethersulfone/polyethersulfone electrospun nanofiber membrane for the removal of heavy metals. Scientific Reports (2022).
5. Review of the Recent Advances in Electrospun Nanofibers Applications in Water Purification. Polymers (2022).