N-doped Reduced Graphene Oxide nanocomposites encapsulated sodium alginate/polyvinyl alcohol microspheres for anthracene and its oxygenated-PAH removal in aqueous solution

Abstract

Abstract In this work, a novel N-doped Reduced Graphene Oxide (NRGO)/sodium alginate (SA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microsphere was prepared by a simple embed method to remove anthracene and its oxygenated-PAH from aqueous solution and reduce the risk of the application of nanomaterials in the water environment. The morphology and functional groups were successfully characterized by SEM, XRD and FTIR etc. The NRGO/SA/PVA microspheres were applied as the efficient adsorbent for removal of anthracene (ANT) and its oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (OPAH), 2-methylanthraquinone (2-MAQ) from aqueous solution. Batch experiments with the subject of the mass ratio of SA and PVA, the concentration of NRGO and contact time were investigated. The sorption kinetics and equilibrium data followed pseudo-second order model and the Freundlich isotherm model, respectively, indicating the chemical adsorption process. Regeneration experiments indicated that the NRGO/SA/PVA microspheres almost showed a slight loss in adsorption capacity after three cycles. This study indicated that the NRGO/SA/PVA microspheres with easy separation, environmental benignity and high reusability were proved to be a kind of potential adsorbent for PAHs and OPAHs removal from wastewater.