Abstract
Graphitic carbon oxide (GCO) and magnetic graphitic carbon oxide (MGCO) were prepared from sugar via optimized green activation by employing ozone oxidation, and applied to wastewater treatment. The maximal oxidation and adsorption yield of pollutants were achieved at pH 2.0−4.0, which is the optimized pH for ozone oxidation of GC to generate GCO. As-prepared GCO and MGCO were characterized using X-ray, infrared, and microscopic techniques. The MGCO has enough saturation magnetization (MS) of 41.38 emu g−1 for separation of the sorbent from the reaction medium by applying an external magnetic field. Batch adsorption of radioactive and heavy metals (Th(IV), Pb(II)), and a dye (methylene blue (MB)) using GCO and MGCO was evaluated by varying the adsorbent dose, equilibrium pH, contact time, initial metal and dye concentrations, and kinetics and isotherms. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm studies indicated that Th(IV), Pb(II), and MB adsorption were best described by pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm with R2 (correlation coefficient) > 0.99, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities for Th(IV), Pb(II), and MB were 52.63, 47.39, and 111.12 mg g−1 on GCO and 76.02, 71.94, and 76.92 mg g−1 on MGCO. GCO and MGCO are prospectively effective and low-cost adsorbents for ion removal in wastewater treatment. As prepared MGCO can be reused up to three cycles for Th(IV), Pb(II), and MB. This work provides fundamental information about the equilibrium adsorption isotherms and mechanisms for Th(IV), Pb(II), and MB on GCO and MGCO.
Highlights
Rapid industrialization has led to the release of harmful pollutants into various environments such as air, water, and soil
The results indicate that the capacity of graphitic carbon oxide (GCO) and magnetic graphitic carbon oxide (MGCO) to adsorb Th(IV), Pb(II), and MB
GCO and MGCO were prepared from edible sugar and were used for the
Summary
Rapid industrialization has led to the release of harmful pollutants into various environments such as air, water, and soil. Radionuclides (e.g., Th(IV)), heavy metals (e.g., Pb(II)), and dyes (e.g., MB) are the major water pollutants [3,4]. The use of metals and metalloids and organic dyes in various anthropogenic activities, including nuclear power plants, mining operations, and industries for various applications, is the major source of water pollution. Continuous exposure to these toxic chemicals (heavy metals, radionuclides, and organic dyes) poses a high health risk for human beings [1]. The primary source of dyes (e.g., MB) is textile industry wastewater Most of these wastewaters contain toxic compounds and different types of Metals 2019, 9, 935; doi:10.3390/met9090935 www.mdpi.com/journal/metals
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