A sodium modified reduced graphene oxide-FeO nanocomposite for efficient lead() adsorption

• Published in: RSC advances 2016-09, Vol.6 (88), p.84825-84836
• Main Authors: Kireeti, Kota V. M. K, Kadam, Mahesh M, Jha, Neetu
• Format: Article
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra15364j

A simple, cost-effective and facile route was employed to synthesize a hydrophobic sodium modified reduced graphene oxide-magnetic iron oxide (SMGI) nanocomposite. The as-synthesized SMGI material was used as an adsorbent material for the removal of Pb( ii ) from aqueous solutions. The detailed characterization of the SMGI nanocomposite prepared was performed using material characterization techniques. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) studies confirm the deposition of crystalline Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide (rGO). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis shows the presence of 10% sodium cations in the nanocomposite. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images reveal that the magnetite nanoparticles are homogenously deposited on the 2-dimensional surface of the graphene sheets. The nanocomposite prepared possesses a superparamagnetic property, which was exploited for the easy recovery of the SMGI nanocomposite from water after Pb( ii ) adsorption. The effects of pH, contact time and concentration on Pb( ii ) sorption were investigated in detail. The sorption data were fitted using Freundlich and Langmuir models. The pseudo-second-order model was a better fit for Pb( ii ) adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity of 1666.66 ± 59 mg g −1 was obtained. The adsorbent also showed more than 75% removal efficiency of Pb( ii ) after 3 cycles of regeneration. A simple, cost-effective and facile route was employed to synthesize a hydrophobic sodium modified reduced graphene oxide-magnetic iron oxide (SMGI) nanocomposite for the removal of Pb( ii ) from aqueous solutions via adsorption.