Reduced Graphene Oxide-Modified Spinel Cobalt Ferrite Nanocomposite: Synthesis, Characterization, and Its Superior Adsorption Performance for Dyes and Heavy Metals

Abstract

This work is dedicated to the synthesis, characterization, and adsorption performance of reduced graphene oxide-modified spinel cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. The as-synthesized reduced graphene oxide cobalt ferrite (RGCF) nanocomposite has been characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, FESEM coupled with EDXS, XRD, HRTEM, zeta potential, and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements. FESEM proves the particle size in the range of 10 nm. FESEM, EDX, TEM, FTIR, and XPS analyses provide the proof of successful incorporation of rGO sheets with cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. The crystallinity and spinel phase of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles have been shown by XRD results. The saturation magnetization (M s ) was measured as 23.62 emu/g, proving the superparamagnetic behavior of RGCF. The adsorption abilities of the synthesized nanocomposite have been tested using cationic crystal violet (CV) and brilliant green (BG) and anionic methyl orange (MO) and Congo red (CR) dyes. The adsorption trend for MO, CR, BG, and As(V) follows RGCF > rGO > CF at neutral pH. Adsorption studies have been accomplished by optimizing parameters like pH (2−8), adsorbent dose (1−3 mg/25 mL), initial concentration (10−200 mg/L), and contact time at constant room temperature (RT). To further investigate the sorption behavior, isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamic studies have been conducted. Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-secondorder kinetic models suited better for the adsorption of dyes and heavy metals. The maximum adsorption capacities (q m ) obtained have been found as 1666.7, 1000, 416.6, and 222.2 mg/g for MO, CR, BG, and As, respectively, with operational parameters such as T = 298.15 K; RGCF dose: 1 mg for MO and 1.5 mg each for CR, BG, and As. Thus, the RGCF nanocomposite was found to be an excellent adsorbent for the removal of dyes and heavy metals.

A Review of Various Synthesis Methods of Graphene and Applications

“…The solutions were filtered using a glass fiber filter after another 15 minutes of stirring. Prepare 300 mL of the 10% HCl solution and the graphene oxide particle filtration for the acid dispersion method [9,21,38]. Several times with a glass fiber filter before filtering again, after filtering several times in 300 mL of acetone for total purification.…”

“…1.5 g of graphite and 4.5g of KMnO4 were gradually added to the H2SO4/H3PO4 mixture; the reaction was the constant stirring at 50°C for 12 h. The mixture was placed in an ice bath, followed by 1.5 mL of H2O2 to stop the process. They are washed several times through vacuum filtration with deionized water, HCl, and ethanol [10,11,38]. Finally, the slurry with dry diethyl ether was added and dried at 100°C for 12 hours.…”

Neem biomass derived carbon quantum dots synthesized via one step ultrasonification method for ecofriendly methylene blue dye removal

“…Regarding adsorption-based dye removal, sorbents like microporous silica 21 , silica nanoparticles 22 , carbon composites 23 , and biochar 24 offer numerous advantages, including high adsorption capacity, potential for regeneration and reuse, but also come with several drawbacks, such as the use of hazardous precursor chemicals, high energy requirements, high costs, the need for expensive equipment, challenging operating conditions, and sample toxicity. To address these challenges, carbon dots were synthesized utilizing biomass as a precursor.…”

Efficient Removal of Cationic and Anionic Dyes from Synthetic and Real Wastewater by Plant-mediated Nickel Nanoparticles

“…In the present time, various metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been synthesized of varying shapes, sizes, compositions, morphologies, and physio-chemical properties. MNPs have attracted much more attention from scientific community due to their notable properties such as thermal strength, high surface area, mechanical strength, high ordered structure optical 14 and magnetic properties 15 . Recently, experts have noticed it inexpensive to manufacture bio-metallic nanoparticles with the help of livings sources (plants, fungus, and algae), as they are readily available, cost effective, harmless, and competent.…”