Preparation of mesoporous graphene oxide/SBA-15 hybrid nanoparticles as a potential adsorbent for removal of cationic dyes

Abstract

In this paper, mesoporous graphene oxide/SBA-15 nanocomposite was used as an adsorbent for removing cationic dyes from wastewater. Adsorption experiments tested the initial concentration of dye, calcination temperature, and pH of dye solution. The features of the composite were examined through X-ray diffractometry, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and surface area analysis. The graphene oxide/SBA-15 samples possessed a high degree of oxidation that gave the composite an excellent adsorptive property toward dye. Higher solution pH and initial concentration of dye favored methylene blue adsorption. Adsorption capacity was highest at a calcination temperature of 550°C. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms were analyzed. The adsorption process was well fitted by the pseudo-second order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. The mesoporous graphene oxide/SBA-15 composite is a promising material for removing aqueous organic pollutants.

Utilization of Rice Husk Ash in the Preparation of Graphene-Oxide-Based Mesoporous Nanocomposites with Excellent Adsorption Performance

“…However, the relative intensity of the peaks decreased with an increase in the quantity of GO. This occurred because the combination of GO with SBA-15 probably caused slight obstruction of silica pores [ 32 ]. The RH-SBA-15 and T-SBA-15 samples in Figure 1 b also exhibited three peaks at the (100), (110), and (200) planes, indicating the formation of SBA-15 structure.…”

“…When the P/Po ratio was 0.6–0.8, the isotherm had a narrow hysteresis loop. This observation indicated the formation of relatively uniform mesopores [ 32 ]. The pore size in T-SBA-15 was approximately 7.78 nm, as displayed in Figure 7 b.…”

“…RH-GO/SBA-15 was prepared by heating the surfactant mixture using the hydrothermal method as follows [ 32 ]: 1.0 g of P123, 6.0 g of 0.5 wt.% GO suspension, and 125 mL of 2.0 M HCl were mixed in a glass flask under continuous stirring at 35 °C. Then, 25 mL of sodium silicate solution (extracted from RHA) was slowly added to the surfactant solution.…”