Qiuju Du

Methylene blue adsorption on graphene oxide/calcium alginate composites.

Graphene oxide has been used as an adsorbent in wastewater treatment. However, the dispersibility in aqueous solution and the biotoxicity to human cells of graphene oxide limits its practical application in environmental protection. In this research, a novel environmental friendly adsorbent, calcium alginate immobilized graphene oxide composites was prepared. The effects of pH, contact time, temperature and dosage on the adsorption properties of methylene blue onto calcium alginate immobilized graphene oxide composites were investigated. The equilibrium adsorption data were described by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained from Langmuir isotherm equation was 181.81 mg/g. The pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, and intraparticle diffusion equation were used to evaluate the kinetic data. Thermodynamic analysis of equilibriums indicated that the adsorption reaction of methylene blue onto calcium alginate immobilized graphene oxide composites was exothermic and spontaneous in nature.

Removal of copper from aqueous solution by carbon nanotube/calcium alginate composites

With bulk production and increasing application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as adsorbents in wastewater treatment, they will eventually be discharged into water environment and result in human contact risk to these toxic materials. However, so far few attentions have been paid to resolve the environmental micro-pollution caused by these micro-sized CNTs. In this research, an environmental friendly adsorbent, CNTs immobilized by calcium alginate (CNTs/CA) was prepared. Its copper adsorption properties were investigated via equilibrium studies. Experimental results showed that copper removal efficiency of CNTs/CA is high and reaches 69.9% even at a lower pH of 2.1. The copper adsorption capacity of CNTs/CA can attain 67.9 mg/g at copper equilibrium concentration of 5mg/L.

Adsorption of fluoride from aqueous solution by graphene.

A batch adsorption system was applied to investigate the adsorption of fluoride from aqueous solution by graphene. The adsorption capacities and rates of fluoride onto graphene at different initial pH, contact time, and temperature were evaluated. The experimental results showed that graphene is an excellent fluoride adsorbent with an adsorption capacity of up to 17.65 mg/g at initial fluoride concentration of 25 mg/L and temperature of 298 K. The isotherm analysis indicated that the adsorption data can be well described by Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption reaction was a spontaneous and endothermic process.

Removal of lead from aqueous solution by activated carbon prepared from Enteromorpha prolifera by zinc chloride activation.

Activated carbon was prepared from Enteromorpha prolifera (EP) by zinc chloride activation. The physico-chemical properties of EP-activated carbon (EPAC) were characterized by thermal stability, zeta potential and Boehm titration methods. The examination showed that EPAC has a porous structure with a high surface area of 1688 m(2)/g. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to study the effect of various parameters such as initial pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time and temperature on Pb(II) ions adsorption properties by EPAC. The kinetic studies showed that the adsorption data followed a pseudo second-order kinetic model. The isotherm analysis indicated that the adsorption data can be represented by Freundlich isotherm model. Thermodynamic studies indicated that the adsorption reaction was a spontaneous and endothermic process.

Mechanical and dye adsorption properties of graphene oxide/chitosan composite fibers prepared by wet spinning.

Graphene oxide/chitosan composite fibers were prepared by a wet spinning method, and their mechanical properties were investigated. Experimental results showed that the introduction of graphene oxide at 4 wt% loading can improve the tensile strengths of chitosan fibers. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to study the effect of various parameters, such as the initial pH value, adsorbent dosage, contact time and temperature on adsorption of fuchsin acid dye. The Langmuir model was used to fit the experimental data of adsorption isotherm, and kinetic studies showed that the adsorption data followed the pseudo-second order model. Thermodynamic studies indicated that the adsorption of fuchsin acid dye on graphene oxide/chitosan fibers was a spontaneous and exothermic process. Our results indicate that the graphene oxide/chitosan fibers have excellent mechanical properties and can serve as a promising adsorbent for the removal of dyes from aqueous solutions.

Macroscopic, flexible, high-performance graphene ribbons.

Tailoring the structure and properties of graphene fibers is an important step toward practical applications. Here, we report macroscopic, long graphene ribbons formed by combining electrostatic interaction and shear stress during the wet-spinning process. The graphene ribbons are flexible and can be woven into complex structures, and the ribbon morphology can be tailored by controlling the orientation of wrinkles to obtain elasticity within a modest strain. We demonstrate several potential applications of pure or Pt-graphene hybrid ribbons as elastic strain sensors, counter electrodes for dye-sensitized fiber solar cells with cell efficiencies reaching 4.69% under standard illumination and 6.41% with a back reflector, and woven fabric supercapacitor electrodes. Our method can directly fabricate meter-long graphene ribbons with controlled structure and high performance as both energy conversion and energy storage materials.

Removal of copper ions from aqueous solution by calcium alginate immobilized kaolin

Kaolin has been widely used as an adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. However, the lower heavy metal adsorption capacity of kaolin limits its practical application. A novel environmental friendly material, calcium alginate immobilized kaolin (kaolin/CA), was prepared using a sol-gel method. The effects of contact time, pH, adsorbent dose, and temperature on Cu2+ adsorption by kaolin/CA were investigated. The Langmuir isotherm was used to describe the experimental adsorption, the maximum Cu2+ adsorption capacity of the kaolin/CA reached up to 53.63 mg/g. The thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption reaction was a spontaneous and endothermic process.

Adsorption Properties of Doxorubicin Hydrochloride onto Graphene Oxide: Equilibrium, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies

Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) is an effective anticancer agent for leukemia chemotherapy, although its clinical use has been limited because of its side effects such as cardiotoxicity, alopecia, vomiting, and leucopenia. Attention has been focussed on developing new drug carriers with high adsorption capacity and rapid adsorption rate in order to minimize the side effects of DOX. Graphene oxide (GO), a new type of nanomaterial in the carbon family, was prepared by Hummers method and used as adsorbent for DOX from aqueous solution. The physico-chemical properties of GO were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential, and element analysis. The adsorption properties of DOX on GO were studied as a function of contact time, adsorbent dosage, temperature and pH value. The results showed that GO had a maximum adsorption capacity of 1428.57 mg/g and the adsorption isotherm data fitted the Langmuir model. The kinetics of adsorption fits a pseudo-second-order model. The thermodynamic studies indicate that the adsorption of DOX on GO is spontaneous and endothermic in nature.

Highly effective removal of basic fuchsin from aqueous solutions by anionic polyacrylamide/graphene oxide aerogels

Novel anionic polyacrylamide/graphene oxide aerogels were prepared by a freeze drying method and used to remove basic fuchsin from aqueous solutions. These aerogels were sponge-like solid with lightweight, fluffy and porous structure. The batch adsorption experiments were carried out to study the effect of various parameters, such as the solution pH, adsorbent dose, contact time and temperature on adsorption properties of basic fuchsin onto anionic polyacrylamide/graphene oxide aerogels. The kinetics of adsorption corresponded to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm was suitable to describe the equilibrium adsorption process. The maximum adsorption capacity was up to 1034.3 mg/g, which indicated that anionic polyacrylamide/graphene oxide aerogels were promising adsorbents for removing dyes pollutants from aqueous solution.

Physico-chemical characteristics and lead biosorption properties of Enteromorpha prolifera

Biosorption of lead ions onto Enteromorpha prolifera has been investigated. The physico-chemical properties of the biosorbent were characterized by thermal stability, zeta potential, and Boehm titration methods. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to examine the effect of various parameters such as initial pH, particle size, adsorbent dosage, ionic strength, time, and temperature on biosorption. The kinetic studies showed that the adsorption process was very fast and equilibrium was reached after about 60 min of contact. The pseudo-first-order Lagergren equation, pseudo second-order rate equation, and second-order rate equation were used to describe the kinetic adsorption process. Thermodynamic parameters were determined at three different temperatures. The negative values of free energy change indicated the spontaneous nature of adsorption process.