To
increase antibacterial activity and reduce the cytotoxicity
of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs), we used reduced graphene oxide with
montmorillonite to support CuNPs and fixed CuNPs on reduced graphene
oxide to synthesize the hybrid montmorillonite-reduced graphene oxide
copper nanoparticles (MMT-rGO-CuNPs). The synthesized MMT-rGO-CuNPs
complex showed a stronger antibacterial activity against Gram-positive
bacteria S. aureus than Gram-negative E.
coli. This may be due to the protective effect of the outer
membrane of E. coli, as well as the fact that the
MMT-rGO-CuNPs complex adsorbs S. aureus more strongly
than E. coli. The hybrid molecule’s antibacterial
efficacy is the combined result of the synergistic effects of electrostatic
adsorption and copper ion sterilization ability. At the same time,
the MMT-rGO-CuNPs complex exhibits a lower cytotoxicity than PVP-CuNPs
and provides a biocompatible composite material with a reduced cytotoxicity.
The
applications of graphene-based adsorbents were limited because
of their complicated manufacturing technology and hi cost, thus it
is very important to prepare new inexpensive and easily manufactured
graphene-based adsorbents. Herein, novel GCP hydrogels with different
graphene oxide (GO), chitosan (CS), and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)
ratios were facilely prepared through a method of freeze–thaw
physical cross-linking, which was green and low-cost, and the structural
characterization and adsorptive property of the optimum GCP1:2:4 hydrogel toward Cd2+ and Ni2+ in wastewater
was evaluated. It was found that the GCP1:2:4 hydrogel
had good mechanical strength and a special 3D interconnection porous
structure. The isotherms of adsorption used the Langmuir model, and
the kinetics of adsorption following the pseudo-second-order model
were confirmed. Moreover, the adsorption property with respect to
Cd2+ and Ni2+ in wastewater has been largely
effected by the pH and was less influenced by the ionic strength and
humic acid, and the GCP1:2:4 hydrogel possessed excellent
adsorptive and recyclable properties. These results demonstrated that
the GCP1:2:4 hydrogel could serve as a desirable adsorbent
to get rid of heavy metal ions in sewage.
A reduced graphene oxide/montmorillonite aerogel has high adsorption and antibacterial activity, and excellent recyclable properties thanks to its outstanding mechanical strength.
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