This study developed a method of filtering heavy metals in water by using dimethylacetamide to dissolve polyacrylonitrile(PAN) fibers and prepare an electrospinning solution. The diameter, surface morphology, and quantitative absorption rate of the electrospun fibers were then explored to determine their efficiency in filtering lead ions (Pb2+) in water. The results revealed that when powdered ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt (EDTA-4Na) was mixed with the electrospinning solution, the diameter of the resulting fibers (0.47 μm) was slightly greater than that of the fibers created without adding EDTA-4Na (0.44 μm); this was attributable to the adsorption of the added EDTA-4Na powder on the PAN fiber surface. Quantitative results from ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy revealed that after 180 min, the PAN fabric created using the electrospinning solution chelated with EDTA-4Na exhibited a greater Pb2+ absorption rate (34.47%) than did that created using the solution without EDTA-4Na (9.77%)
