Enhanced hydrogen sulfide adsorption of polyurethane nanofibrous membranes using carbon nanotubes decorated with metal oxide nanoparticles

In this study, polyurethane nanofibers containing carbon nanotubes modified with metal oxide nanoparticles including copper oxide and chromium oxide were prepared. First, carbon nanotubes were modified by hydrothermally (CNT-CuO-h) and ultrasonically (CNT-CuO-s) synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles, as well as chromium oxide, and then 12% polyurethane solution containing 0.7% modified carbon nanotube were electrospuned. Morphology and energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDX) results indicating the distribution and dispersion of metal oxide nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes, as well as the uniform distribution of bead-free nanofibrous composites. Moreover, structural analysis through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) indicate the modification of carbon nanotube with copper and chromium oxides. Investigation of hydrogen sulfide adsorption on nanofibrous membrane containing modified carbon nanotubes and its comparison with nanofibrous membrane containing carbon nanotubes and activated carbon indicate a significant enhancement in gas adsorption capacity of samples containing carbon nanotubes modified with metal oxides. The results showed that adding only 0.7% (wt.%) carbon nanotube modified with copper oxide (CNT-CuO-h) to polyurethane nanofiber membranes increases the hydrogen sulfide adsorption capacity and gas breakthrough time by three times.