Optimizing the Removal of Rhodamine B in Aqueous Solutions by Reduced Graphene Oxide-Supported Nanoscale Zerovalent Iron (nZVI/rGO) Using an Artificial Neural Network-Genetic Algorithm (ANN-GA)

Abstract

Rhodamine B (Rh B) is a toxic dye that is harmful to the environment, humans, and animals, and thus the discharge of Rh B wastewater has become a critical concern. In the present study, reduced graphene oxide-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI/rGO) was used to treat Rh B aqueous solutions. The nZVI/rGO composites were synthesized with the chemical deposition method and were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, N2-sorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The effects of several important parameters (initial pH, initial concentration, temperature, and contact time) on the removal of Rh B by nZVI/rGO were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network hybridized with genetic algorithm (ANN-GA). The results suggest that the ANN-GA model was more accurate than the RSM model. The predicted optimum value of Rh B removal efficiency (90.0%) was determined using the ANN-GA model, which was compatible with the experimental value (86.4%). Moreover, the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm equations were applied to fit the adsorption equilibrium data, and the Freundlich isotherm was the most suitable model for describing the process for sorption of Rh B onto the nZVI/rGO composites. The maximum adsorption capacity based on the Langmuir isotherm was 87.72 mg/g. The removal process of Rh B could be completed within 20 min, which was well described by the pseudo-second order kinetic model.

Mesoporous Mn-Doped Fe Nanoparticle-Modified Reduced Graphene Oxide for Ethyl Violet Elimination: Modeling and Optimization Using Artificial Intelligence

“…GO was synthesized following the improved Hummers method by Shi et al [47]. The Mn-doped Fe/rGO nanocomposites were prepared by a one-step synthesis approach (Figure 2).…”

Adsorptive and Reductive Removal of Chlorophenol from Wastewater by Biomass-Derived Mesoporous Carbon-Supported Sulfide Nanoscale Zerovalent Iron

“…In the past two decades, nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) has been demonstrated to be an effective solution for the degradation/elimination of various pollutants including chlorinated organic compounds, heavy metal ions and antibiotics due to its strong reductive capability, low cost and environmental friendliness [6][7][8]. However, nZVI particles are easily agglomerated due to their high surface energy and intrinsic magnetic interaction, resulting in the rapid deactivation of nZVI in the operation process [9,10].…”

Structural Regulation and Electroconductivity Change of Nitrogen-Doping Reduced Graphene Oxide Prepared Using p-Phenylene Diamine as Modifier

“…With high conductivity [ 1 ] and thermal conductivity [ 2 ], as well as good flexibility and mechanical properties [ 3 ], graphene [ 4 , 5 ] or graphene oxide (GO) [ 6 , 7 ] has attracted wide attention from researchers in chemistry, physics, and materials fields [ 8 , 9 , 10 ] since its discovery in 2004. In order to eliminate the influence of the gapless and inert sp 2 hybrid carbon atom on GO [ 11 , 12 ], researchers have made attempts to regulate the structure and properties of graphene oxide by substituting the carbon atom with a doping nitrogen atom (N).…”