Electrospun composite nanofibres produced from Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) seed biomass blended with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer and metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs)

This research investigated the use of electrospun composite nanofibres made from Moringa oleifera seed biomass, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs) for removing lead (Pb(II)) ions from wastewater. The nanofibres were characterized and tested for Pb(II) adsorption under various conditions, showing optimal removal at a pH between 7.5 and 9 and a contact time of 60 minutes. The adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm model, with adsorption capacities ranging from 172.4 to 227.3 mg/g, the highest being for PAN/M. oleifera/Fe3O4:Mn. The presence of other ions and increased ionic strength affected Pb(II) adsorption, but the nanofibres demonstrated selectivity for Pb(II) in multi-ion systems and maintained reasonable reusability after five cycles. This study suggests that these composite nanofibres offer a promising and feasible approach for heavy metal removal from wastewater.