Abstract:

Acrylonitrile acrylic acid copolymer was synthesised using suspension polymerisation and β-cyclodextrin was mixed with this copolymer in different ratios. then poly(acrylonitrileacrylic acid)/-cyclodextrin (PANAA/-CD) nanowebs were produced using the electrospinning process. The effect of different electrospinning parameters such as polymer concentration, distance, flow rate and voltage on nanofibre properties was studied. The presence of CD molecules in the PANAA solutions did not affect the diameter of nanofibres significantly. The presence of CD molecules in the PANAA/CD nanofibres produced was studied by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The molecular filtration capability of the nanowebs produced was studied using phenolphthalein as a model organic molecule, by means of a UV-Vis Spectrophotometer. Results show that the nanofibres produced are able to remove phenolphthalein effectively from the solution. These nanowebs have the potential to be used as a molecular filter and/or nanofilter for filtration/purification/separation purposes.