Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of La‐CNT in the Adsorption of Aqueous Rhodamine B Dye Solutions

Abstract

Researchers have focused on exploring various types of nanomaterial‐based adsorbents, of which carbon nanotubes (CNT) are the most promising, to offset the harmful effects of waste water‐containing dyes on both human health and aquatic ecosystems. A new, novel, efficient, rapid, and one‐pot synthetic route for synthesizing CNT has been attempted by using sodium perchlorate as a precursor at 300 °C for 3 h. Further, La‐CNT (lanthanum‐doped carbon nanotubes) has been synthesized. These materials were characterized through FTIR, FESEM, XRD, STA, EDS, and UV‐visible techniques, among others. Both materials were used as better suitable and efficient adsorbents to completely remove the toxic dye Rh‐B (Rhodamine B) (≈100% adsorption of dye) from aqueous solutions. The synthesized materials displayed lanthanum‐doped carbon nanotubes and aligned nanotubes, with lanthanum‐doped carbon buds present in La‐CNT. La‐CNT was found to be more thermally stable than CNT. Freundlich and Langmuir's isotherms were validated for the adsorption process, with pseudo‐second‐order kinetics being favored.