Mordenite zeolite—Polyethersulfone composite fibers developed for decontamination of heavy metal ions

Abstract Mordenite zeolite was composited in polyethersulfone fibers with mordenite zeolite loading of 27.0, 45.5, 58.8, and 69.0 wt%. Phase inversion was used to prepare porous composite fibers. During the process, mordenite zeolite powders were mixed in polyethersulfone (PES) – N -methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solution. Then the PES mixed solution was coagulated in water to prepare composite fibers. The composite fiber morphology provided evidence that mordenite zeolite powders were embedded well in the PES scaffold. Characterization results implied that mordenite zeolite interacted and composed with PES matrix. With increased mordenite zeolite loading amounts, the composite fiber surface was increased respectively by 11.7 and 145 m 2 /g for 0 and 69.0 wt% loading. Their composite fibers exhibited thermostability and heavy metal adsorbability. The adsorption behavior of heavy metal ions, especially to Pb 2+ , was investigated because their composite fibers were immersed in a batch solution of single or quaternary mixed heavy metal ions of Pb 2+ , Cd 2+ , Cu 2+ , and Ni 2+ . Composite fibers with 58.8 wt% and 69.0 wt% of mordenite zeolite showed high adsorption capacity to lead by fitting with the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity and Langmuir constant of heavy metal ions follows the order of Pb 2+  > Cd 2+  > Cu 2+  > Ni 2+ at pH 5. Adsorption selectivity of Pb 2+ was observed in a heavy metal mixed solution and high concentration of KNO 3 solution using composite fiber.