Green valorization of cotton–acrylic fabric blends into magnetic nanofiber adsorbents for PFAS and organic dye remediation in complex wastewater streams

Abstract

The increasing generation of mixed textile waste and the persistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and synthetic dyes in industrial effluents present significant challenges for sustainable wastewater treatment. In this study, cotton–acrylic textile waste was valorized into multifunctional magnetic nanofiber adsorbents (CA–Fe₃O₄–NF) via a combined sol–gel-assisted in situ co-precipitation and electrospinning approach. The resulting nanofibers exhibited a hierarchically porous structure, a surface area of 112 m 2 g⁻ 1 , and superparamagnetic properties enabling rapid magnetic separation. The developed material demonstrated effective adsorption performance toward PFOS, PFOA, methylene blue, and rhodamine B, with maximum adsorption capacities of 184, 165, 142, and 118 mg g⁻ 1 , respectively, along with relatively fast kinetics and spontaneous, endothermic adsorption behavior. The nanofibers retained more than 90% of their initial performance after multiple regeneration cycles, indicating good reusability. Unlike many previously reported magnetic nanofiber adsorbents that rely on virgin polymers and are evaluated under simplified conditions, this study employs waste-derived materials and includes assessment under varying pH, ionic strength, and real wastewater matrices, providing improved environmental relevance. Although the material exhibited potential for simultaneous removal of PFAS and dyes in simplified systems, the study primarily focuses on controlled experimental conditions, and further validation under more complex multi-component environments is required. In addition, the proposed adsorption mechanisms are based on indirect evidence derived from spectroscopic analysis and adsorption behavior, and should therefore be considered as plausible interpretations rather than definitive conclusions. Overall, this work presents a sustainable and cost-effective approach for converting textile waste into functional magnetic nanofiber adsorbents, highlighting their potential application in wastewater treatment while acknowledging the need for further validation under realistic conditions.