Electro-desalination of saline solutions by multiwall carbon nanotube electrodes

Abstract

Electrodes of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) binding were prepared for NaCl removal from water in the electrosorption system. SEM, XRD and BET analysis were used to characterize the prepared electrodes. The optimum electrosorption parameters (electrosorption temperature, NaCl concentration, electrosorption time, and potential) were studied. The maximum electrosorption capacity (15.64 mg/g) was obtained at −1.0 V, 100 min, and 30 °C. The electrosorption capacity of electrodes decreased from 15.64 mg/g to 6.15 mg/g with the temperature rise from 30 to 50 °C. Also, the kinetics of electrosorption NaCl by Electrodes was investigated by pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order. The results indicated that the electrosorption data will fit with the pseudo-first-order model indicating the physio-electrosorption of NaCl by Electrodes with activation energy was 19.45 kJ mol−1. The regeneration result indicated the exceptional and stable reusability of MWCNT/PTFE in the NaCl electrosorption system.