Functional Cross‐Linked Electrospun Polyvinyl Alcohol Membranes and Their Potential Applications

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a water soluble polymer that requires further treatment to be stabilized before it can be used in aqueous environments. Electrospun PVA is cross‐linked by incorporating cross‐linking agents directly into the electrospinning solution followed by post‐electrospinning thermal treatments to attain stability in aqueous environments. Previously published works on post‐treatments include glutaraldehyde vapor exposure or soaking in organic solvents such as ethanol. However, these treatments incur lots of difficulties and hazards especially in scale production. In this study, with a view of imminent scale‐up production required, fabricating electrospun cross‐linked PVA is investigated without using catalysts, toxic vapor exposure, or solvent treatment. To produce cross‐linked electrospun PVA membranes, citric acid, maleic acid, and polyacrylic acid are, respectively, added to PVA solution prior to electrospinning. Two potential applications are examined; the first is to use the membranes as produced for metal uptake in aqueous systems. The second application is for ammonia adsorption after decorating the membranes with a metal organic framework, copper benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylate (HKUST‐1).