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In the current study, amino functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-NH₂) were synthesized from raw MWCNTs and utilized to prepare novel chitosan/PVA thin adsorptive membranes for copper ion removal from water. Various weights of the CNTs were embedded in the membranes to obtain the optimum MWCNTs content. Finger-like nanochannels appeared in the compact structure of the CS/PVA membrane by addition of 0.5 wt.% of the MWCNTs; however, fibril-shape and dense structures were generated at higher percent weights i.e. 1 and 2 wt.%, respectively. Adsorption capacity of the membrane containing 2 wt.% MWCNTs (20.1mg/g at 40°C) was almost twice as large as that of the plain membrane (11.1mg/g); however, capacity enlargement was not significant (<3mg/g), when MWCNTs content raised from 1 to 2 wt.%. This indicates that the optimum CNT loading is 1 wt.%. Freundlich isotherm …