Journal article
Removal of Uranium by Polymer Metal Oxide Nanofiber Composites: Enhanced Performance through Integration of Phthalic Acid
ACS applied engineering materials, Vol.3(11), pp.3920-3931
11/28/2025
DOI: 10.1021/acsaenm.5c00648
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
Abstract
We developed polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers embedded with various commercially available metal oxide particles (Fe2O3, TiO2, MnO2, Co3O4, CoFe2O4, ZnFe2O4) via electrospinning for the removal of uranium (U(VI)) from aqueous systems. We compared the performance of composites electrospun with and without the inclusion of phthalic acid (PTA), building on our prior evidence that PTA can promote particle dispersion in precursor sol–gels. Characterization using SEM, TEM, XPS, and BET confirmed that PTA results in improved metal oxide distribution within the polymer fiber, promotes enrichment of metal oxides on the nanofiber surface, and increases composite surface area and porosity. In batch sorption experiments, PTA-containing composites consistently exhibited greater U(VI) uptake than those without PTA, producing more than 2- and 3-fold increases for top-performing Fe2O3 and TiO2 composites, respectively. For Fe2O3 and TiO2 composites with PTA, U(VI) uptake increased from pH 2 to 7, suggesting a contribution from retained phthalic acid (as phthalate), and isotherm studies revealed sorption capacities exceeding ∼8 mg U/g (corresponding to >90% of U(VI) removal) at environmentally relevant concentrations (∼1 μM). These composites are offer a simple, one-pot fabrication route to high-performing U(VI) sorbents in which PTA improves metal oxide distribution, surface area and pore volume of the polymer–metal oxide composites while also contributing to U(VI) uptake via cooperative binding with embedded metal oxides.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Removal of Uranium by Polymer Metal Oxide Nanofiber Composites: Enhanced Performance through Integration of Phthalic Acid
- Creators
- Sewoon Kim - University of IowaSarah K. Scherrer - University of IowaNicole M. Shapiro - University of IowaChang Min Park - Kyungpook National UniversityTori Z. Forbes - University of IowaDavid M. Cwiertny - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- ACS applied engineering materials, Vol.3(11), pp.3920-3931
- DOI
- 10.1021/acsaenm.5c00648
- ISSN
- 2771-9545
- eISSN
- 2771-9545
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society
- Grant note
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: R01ES027145 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health
Research reported in this work was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01ES027145.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 10/17/2025
- Date published
- 11/28/2025
- Academic Unit
- Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Core Research Facilities; Chemistry; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9985019045902771
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