Amino-Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes as Novel Adsorbents for Selective Adsorption of Anionic Dyes in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

In this study, amino-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes ( MWCNTs - NH 2) were successfully synthesized via an improved method and used for removal of organic dyes in aqueous solution. The synthesized MWCNTs - NH 2 were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), etc. The adsorption capacity and selectivity of MWCNTs - NH 2 for organic dyes was evaluated using rhodamine B ( RhB ), malachite green (MG), methyl orange (MO) and congo red (CR) as models. The selective adsorption toward anionic dyes was found for the MWCNTs - NH 2, and MO was selected as a typical anionic dye to deeply investigate the adsorption kinetics, equilibrium isotherms and thermodynamic parameters of the adsorption process. The adsorption kinetics and equilibrium isotherms data fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation and Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamics study revealed that the adsorption of MO onto MWCNTs - NH 2 was spontaneous, exothermic and physisorptive in nature. The results indicated that MWCNTs - NH 2 are promising nanomaterials for removal of anionic dyes from industrial wastewater.