Effective Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solutions by Graphene Oxide–Zirconium Phosphate (GO–Zr-P) Nanocomposite

Abstract

In this research work, surface of graphene oxide was functionalized by zirconium and phosphate to form graphene oxide−zirconium phosphate (GO−Zr-P) nanocomposite, which is used for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. The GO−Zr-P nanocomposite was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and zetapotential analysis. The sheets of GO−Zr-P was found to be strongly wrinkled, and the flat and layered structure of GO varied significantly after treatments with zirconium and phosphate. The effects of pH, contact time, and initial concentrations on the removal of heavy metals were studied. The results of batch experiments indicated that, at pH 6, maximum adsorption capacity can be achieved for Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II), as 363.42, 232.36, 328.56, and 251.58 mg g −1 , respectively. A removal efficiency of ∼99% was obtained after 20 min, via the dispersion of 150 mg of GO−Zr-P nanocomposite in 100 mL of 50 ppm heavy metals. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model provided excellent kinetic data fitting (R 2 > 0.99) and data were fitted to both the Langmuir (R 2 > 0.97) and Freundlich isotherm models (R 2 > 0.99). The XPS results confirmed that the adsorption mechanism of zirconium and phosphate on the GO, as well as adsorption of metal ions onto the GO−Zr-P nanocomposite, was chemisorption, mainly through surface complexation. The results confirmed that GO−Zr-P nanocomposite could be a potential sorbent for effective and regenerable removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions.

Polymer brushes on graphene oxide for efficient adsorption of heavy metal ions from water

“…Particularly, GO has attracted significant interest because of its ease of functionalization, biocompatibility, and relatively simple preparation methods. For instance, CoFe 2 O 4 reduced GO, 49 polypyrrole-reduced GO composite, 50 thiol-functionalized magnetite/GO, 51 GO-chitosan aerogel, 52 and Zr-P modified GO 53 have been synthesized and tested. [46][47][48] Significant efforts have been and are being exerted to chemically modify GO with functional groups for the removal of toxic ions from water.…”

Optimization of cadmium adsorption from aqueous solutions by functionalized graphene and the reversible magnetic recovery of the adsorbent using response surface methodology

“…A wide array of wastewater treatment techniques are applied for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater. Sorption, which is easy to perform, flexible in design and operation, highly efficient, is considered as a fast and cost‐effective approach for wastewater treatment . Considerable effort has been made in recent years to develop efficient and cost‐effective adsorbents.…”

“…In recent years, several graphene‐based materials such as sulfonated graphene nano‐sheets, SiO 2 /graphene and δ‐MnO 2 /graphene composite, graphene oxide−zirconium phosphate, GO−hydrated zirconium oxide, polypyrrole‐reduced GO composite, sodium dodecyl sulfate modified graphene oxide, and EDTA‐GO have been developed as novel adsorbents with high absorption capacity. However, good dispersive property of graphene adsorbents in aqueous phases has been regarded as an obstacle for separating and recycling of these adsorbents.…”

“…Sorption, which is easy to perform, flexible in design and operation, highly efficient, is considered as a fast and cost-effective approach for wastewater treatment. [4][5][6] Considerable effort has been made in recent years to develop efficient and cost-effective adsorbents. Carbonbased nanomaterials are a new class of adsorbents that could provide a new platform for wastewater treatment owing to their large specific surface area and concentrated pore distribution.…”

Time Resolved Direct Determination of Arsenate in the Presence of Arsenite on Pencil Graphite Electrode Modified by Graphene Oxide and Zirconium

“…Zirconium with thermal stability, lack of toxicity and strong ionic and coordinative affinity for oxygen containing groups have been used as binder for attachment to mercaptopropionic acid [14], phosphate [15], DNA [16], molybdophosphoric acid [17], uranyl [18] and graphene oxide [19], in our previous works. In our recent work, zirconium graphene oxide nanocomposite (GOÀZr) has been applied as an adsorbent for the removal of As(V) and As(III) [20].…”