Development of high capacity Li+ adsorbents from H2TiO3/polymer nanofiber composites: Systematic polymer screening, characterization and evaluation

Various polymers were systematically screened as matrices for H2TiO3 Li+ adsorbent. H2TiO3/polymers were electrospun as nanofibers (NF), characterized, and evaluated via response surface methodology with central composite design for Li+ adsorption experiments. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was determined as the most suitable H2TiO3 support. H2TiO3/PAN hydrophilicity and its favorable NF structure provided sufficient feed interaction. The Li+ adsorption was Langmuir-type with maximum capacity = 72.75 mg g−1 and adsorption rate = 1.89 × 10−4 g mg−1 min−1. H2TiO3/PAN is Li+-selective, with a thermodynamically favorable adsorption. Stable performance and durability during cycled adsorption/desorption runs prove H2TiO3/PAN NF as highly effective composite Li+ adsorbent.