A novel amine functionalized Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based electrospun nanofibers mat decorated with zinc (A/Zn/PAN) was synthesized, characterized and evaluated for the decontamination of chemical and biological contaminants. The loading capacity of the chromium (Cr (VI)) and congo red (CR) dye on A/Zn/ PAN nanofiber mat were approximately 23 and 25 mg/g, respectively. Various adsorption parameters like pH, kinetics, dose rate were ascertained by using batch adsorption experiments. Using XPS studies a suitable mechanism has been proposed for the adsorption. The nanofiber mat was found to be effective in inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains. (c) 2017 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.