Synthesis and optimization of Fe2O3 nanofibers for chromate adsorption from contaminated water sources

In this work, α-Fe₂O₃ nanofibers were synthesized via electrospinning and characterized to observe optimal morphological and dimensional properties towards chromate removal. The Fe₂O₃ nanofiber samples were tested in aqueous solutions containing chromate (CrO42−) to analyze their adsorption capabilities and compare them with commercially-available Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. Synthesized Fe₂O₃ nanofibers were observed with a variety of different average diameters, ranging from 23 to 63 nm, while having a constant average grain size at 34 nm, point zero charge at pH 7.1, and band gap at 2.2 eV. BET analysis showed an increase in specific surface area with decreasing average diameter, from 7.2 to 59.2 m2/g, due to the increased surface area-to-volume ratio with decreasing nanofiber size. Based on CrO4−2 adsorption isotherms at pH 6, adsorption capacity of the Fe₂O₃ nanofibers increased with decreasing diameter, with the 23 nm sized nanofibers having an adsorption capacity of 90.9 mg/g, outperforming the commercially-available Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles by nearly 2-fold. Additionally, adsorption kinetics was also analyzed, increasing with decreasing nanofiber diameter. The enhanced performance of the nanofiber is suggested to be caused solely due to the increased surface area, in part by its size and morphology. Electrospun Fe₂O₃ nanofibers provide a promising solution for effective heavy metal removal through nanotechnology-integrated treatment systems.