Ultra-fast adsorption of four typical pollutants using magnetically separable ethanolamine-functionalized graphene

Abstract

• The magnetically separable ethanolamine-functionalized graphene was synthesized. • The Fe 3 O 4 and AE co-modified graphene (MAEGO) can achieve ultra-fast adsorption. • In only five minutes, the adsorption capacities of MAEGO for TC is 315.25 mg/g. • MAEGO can remove tetracycline, levofloxacin, methylene blue, methyl orange rapidly. • When the adsorption of TC reached equilibrium, the removal rate was 97.80%. Frequent organic pollution threatens people and the environment. Achieving rapid on-site adsorption and removal of pollutants is therefore of great significance to quickly alleviate pollution and reduce harm to life and the environment. In this study, we used organic covalent, supramolecular self-assembly and soft chemistry to construct a magnetically separable ethanolamine (AE)-functionalized graphene adsorption material (MAEGO). Due to synergy between AE and Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles, the adsorption active centers generated in MAEGO are highly exposed, which greatly improves the adsorption and migration of pollutants. In only five minutes, the adsorption capacities of MAEGO for tetracycline (TC), levofloxacin, methylene blue and methyl orange were 315.25, 229.53, 500 and 257.14 mg/g, respectively. The corresponding pollutant removal rates were 63.20%, 49.74%, 100% and 45.33%, respectively. When the adsorption of TC reached equilibrium (1440 min), the removal rate was 97.80%. The adsorption data fitted the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models well. MAEGO is an efficient and promising adsorbent for rapid removal of organic pollutants.