Preparation of magnetic Ni/wollastonite and zeolite P/Ni/wollastonite composite fibers

Magnetic composite fibers with wollastonite (WO) core and Ni shell were prepared by electroless plating using natural mineral WO fibers as supporters. Zeolite P layers were then loaded on the surface of Ni/WO fibers by in situ hydrothermal method. The sample structure and properties were characterized via SEM, XRD, SQUID, EDX, and N2 adsorption. The compact Ni–P coatings on the surface of WO fibers resulted in good magnetic properties of the Ni/WO fibers and zeolite P/Ni/WO fibers. After two crystallization cycles, a continuous zeolite P layer could be formed on the surface of Ni–P coating. The zeolite loading improved the stability of Ni–P coating in the acid solution, resulting in that the zeolite P/Ni/WO fibers can be used at a wide pH range of 3–7. Zeolite P/Ni/WO fiber exhibited a good sorption property for Cu2+ in the aqueous solution (12.48 mg/g) and could be reused after regeneration, indicating that it could be an effective and reusable adsorbent for metal ions from a liquid system.