Electrospun nanofibre membranes from blend solutions of deacetylated gum kondagogu and polyvinyl alcohol of various weight proportions were prepared. The electrospun membrane was cross linked by heating at 150°C for 6h and later modified by methane plasma treatment. Membranes were successively used for the removal of nanoparticles (Ag, Au and Pt) from water. Pt nanoparticles with the smallest size (2.4 ± 0.7 nm) has a higher adsorption capacity (270.4 mg/g and 327.2mg/g) compared to Au and Ag nanoparticles with particle sizes 7.8 ± 2.3 nm and 10.5 ± 3.5 nm onto nanofibre membrane (NFM) and methane plasma treated membrane (P-NFM). The extraction efficiency of P-NFM for the removal of nanoparticles in water is higher compared to untreated membranes. The adsorption kinetics were evaluated by pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order models for the extraction of nanoparticles from water, with the pseudo-second order model providing a better fit. The reusability and regeneration of the P-NFM for consecutive adsorption was also established.

Department of Nanomaterials in Natural Sciences Institute for Nanomaterials Advanced Technologies and Innovation Technical University of Liberec Studentská 1402 2 460 08 Liberec Czech Republic

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Tree gum-based renewable materials: Sustainable applications in nanotechnology, biomedical and environmental fields