Synthesis and characterization of surface modified graphene–zirconium oxide nanocomposite and its possible use for the removal of chlorophenol from aqueous solution

Abstract

The narrative adsorbent graphene zirconium oxide was synthesized and surface was modified with CTAB to enhance its adsorption capacity. The structural, functional, morphological, optical and thermal properties of synthesized adsorbent were performed using XRD, FTIR, electron microscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy and TGA/DSC techniques, respectively. The adsorbent showed excellent removal efficiency towards 4-chlorophenol from aqueous solution. Effects of concentration, contact time, pH and temperature were studied and it was found that adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. Maximum adsorption occurred at pH 1.0. Kinetic study showed that pseudo-second-order kinetic model was obeyed. The effect of interfering ions was found to be negligible on the adsorption of 4-chlorophenol. The analytical applicability was tested by desorbing the adsorbed chlorophenol with a mixture of methanol, 0.1M sodium perchlorate (60:40) and >90% recovery of 4-chlorophenol was achieved by batch process.