Electrospun Fibers for Metal Ion Adsorption

In the last two decade, a growing interest is emerging for the fabrication of nanofibrous membranes by electrospinning techniques. Due to their superior features in terms of extended surface area, high porosity and high process versatility, electrospun fibres are promising to fabricate excellent adsorbent systems for heavy metals ions. Indeed, by the combination of organic and inorganic materials and an accurate functionalization of fibre surface, it is possible to design innovative membranes with selective adsorption ability to specific heavy metal based on competitive mechanism with tunable excellent applications. In this chapter, an overview of the current state of art in the fabrication of electrospun membranes will be proposed, also tracing future insights to meet recent demands in different application areas, including agriculture, food science, and pharmaceutical and biomedical industries.