Removal of Acidic Organic Ionic Dyes from Water by Electrospinning a Polyacrylonitrile Composite MIL101(Fe)-NH(2) Nanofiber Membrane

A nanofiber metal–organic framework filter, a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber membrane composite with an iron/2-amino-terephthalic acid-based metal–organic framework (MIL101(Fe)-NH(2)), was prepared by one-step electrospinning. MIL101(Fe)-NH(2) was combined into the polymer nanofibers in situ. PAN-MIL101(Fe)-NH(2) composite nanofiber membranes (NFMs) were prepared from a homogeneous spinning stock containing MIL101(Fe)-NH(2) prebody fluid and PAN. Crystallization of MIL101(Fe)-NH(2) and solidification of the polymer occurred simultaneously during electrospinning. The PAN-MIL101(Fe)-NH(2) composite NFM showed that MIL101(Fe)-NH(2) was uniformly distributed throughout the nanofiber and was used to adsorb and separate acidic organic ionic dyes from the aqueous solution. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis showed that MIL101(Fe)-NH(2) crystals were effectively bonded in the PAN nanofiber matrix, and the crystallinity of MIL101(Fe)-NH(2) crystals remained good, while the distribution was uniform. Owing to the synergistic effect of PAN and the MIL101(Fe)-NH(2) crystal, the PAN-MIL101(Fe)-NH(2) composite NFM showed a fast adsorption rate for acidic ionic dyes. This study provides a reference for the rapid separation and purification of organic ionic dyes from wastewater.