Bioinspired elelctrospun hybrid nanofibers based on biomass templated within polymeric matrix for metal removal from wastewater

Bioinspired hybrid nanofibers on the basis of polystyrene and Spirulina biomass—pristine and modified—were produced. These nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The hybrid nanofibers have been utilized as adsorbents for the removal of copper and manganese ions from synthetic solution in batch mode at pH = 7, during a 2-h experiment. The maximum adsorption capacity was achieved for nanofibers with maximum Spirulina biomass loading: q = 8.7 mg/g for copper and 7.3 mg/g for manganese (with pristine biomass); q = 8.2 mg/g for copper and 7.0 mg/g for manganese (with modified biomass). The obtained results showed that the hybrid nanofiber could be successfully applied for metal removal from industrial effluents.