Efficient, reversible recovery of anionic acidic dyes from water with aramid nanofibers

Innovative nanotechnology is revolutionizing the treatment of dye-laden industrial wastewater, a major challenge for the textile industry. Our innovative study explores the remarkable adsorption-desorption properties of electrospun aramid nanofibers (ANFs) as an effective solution for the removal of anionic dyes from wastewater. The ANFs, synthesized by advanced electrospinning techniques, were tested against several dyes, including acid blue 117 (AB117), acid red 88 (AR88), acid yellow (AY), methyl orange (MO), and reactive navy blue (RNCIR). Our results show that ANFs exhibit exceptional adsorption kinetics, achieving a remarkable dye removal rate of up to 93% for AB117 within only 5 min. The pH of the dye solution was found to significantly influence the adsorption rate, with optimal adsorption occurring under acidic conditions. Ethanol was successfully used to desorb the dyes from the ANFs, with over 93% dye removal efficiency maintained even after 50 cycles, demonstrating the robustness and sustainability of the ANFs. Furthermore, the ANFs exhibited chemisorption with AB 117, indicating a strong affinity for dye binding. The ANF membranes also exhibited excellent mechanical properties, with a tensile strength of 190 MPa and a toughness of 128.66 MJ·m−3, making them a promising candidate for efficient recovery of acid dyes from industrial wastewater. This breakthrough in nanofiber technology not only provides a rapid and sustainable solution for dye removal but also paves the way for the textile industry to adopt cleaner and greener practices.