Rapid removal of organic dyes from aqueous solutions using mesoporous exfoliated graphite

Abstract

Mesoporous exfoliated graphite (EG) containing copper salts is successfully prepared by one-step microwave irradiation technique. As prepared EG shows the rapid removal of various organic dyes under aqueous solutions via adsorption process. The adsorption performance of six different types of micro pollutants such as methyl orange (MO), malachite green (MG), methylene blue (MB), indigo carmine (IC), Congo red (CR) dyes and biphenol A (BPA) onto EG was investigated. The maximum adsorption values (qmax) obtained for MG, IC, MB, BPA, CR, MO are 192.3, 222.2, 141.9, 147.0, 204.1, 140.5 mg/g, respectively. The comparison adsorption performance of EG with other commercial adsorbent materials was also studied. In addition, the flow through adsorption with recycling capability of EG was explored for the real time wastewater treatment applications. These highly-effective, economical, and recyclable characteristics demonstrate that mesoporous EG materials are promising adsorbents for practical industrial wastewater treatment. • Rapid and efficient synthesis of mesoporous exfoliated graphite about 1 min. • Rapid removal (10 min) of organic micropollutants such as MG, MB, MO, IC, BPA and CR • Maximum adsorption values are 192.3, 141.9, 140.5, 222.2, 147.0 and 204.1 mg/g. • Excellent filtration of mixture of all pollutants water with good cyclic stability