Improved Removal of Toxic Metal Ions by Incorporating Graphene Oxide into Bacterial Cellulose.

Abstract

The efficient removal of toxic metal ions from waste water is of critical importance in environmental protection. In this study, we report the incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) into bacterial cellulose (BC) and the effect on the removal of metal ions from waste water. The as-prepared BC/GO adsorbents have a three-dimensional (3D) network structure with interconnected pores and high porosity. The adsorption capacities and efficiencies of the BC/GO adsorbents with varying GO contents were compared by using Cu2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ as model heavy metal ions. The incorporated GO into the BC/GO adsorbents plays a critical role in removing metal ions through strong electrostatic interactions between the positive metal ions and the negative functional groups on GO. In addition, the effects of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, and ion concentration on the adsorption behavior of the BC/GO adsorbents were investigated. The data from adsorption kinetics indicate that the adsorption of Cu2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ on BC/GO obeys a pseudo-second-order model, while the adsorption isotherms vary with the type of metal ions. The desorption and readsorption experiments of the BC/GO adsorbents demonstrate good recyclability. It has been demonstrated that incorporating GO into BC is an effective way to improve the adsorption behavior of BC.