Effective removal of nickel ions from aqueous solution using multi-wall carbon nanotube functionalized by glycerol-based deep eutectic solvent

• Published in: Colloid and interface science communications Vol. 40; p. 100347
• Main Authors: Rahmati, Neda, Rahimnejad, Mostafa, Pourali, Masoumeh, Muallah, Shatha K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.2021
• Subjects: D-optimal design; Deep eutectic solvent; Multi-wall carbon nano tube; Nickel removal; Reusibility; D-optimal design; Multi-wall carbon nano tube; Nickel removal; Deep eutectic solvent; Reusibility
• ISSN: 2215-0382; 2215-0382
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colcom.2020.100347

Herein, adsorption process based on a new adsorbent was utilized to remove nickel ion, an environmental pollutant, from water. To fabricate the adsorbent, multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) based on tetra-n-butyl-ammonium-bromide. Adsorbent efficiency evaluation and optimizing the conditions of the adsorption process were performed by D-optimal design method. Maximum adsorption capacity of 115.8 mg.g−1 and maximum removal rate of 93% were obtained by adsorbent dosage of 0.011 g for 68 min contact time in pH = 7.21 and 55 °C as optimum conditions. Good behavior of the adsorbent in nickel removal can be due to the enhanced electrostatic forces and chemical interaction between nickel ions and the adsorbent by higher functionalized MWCNTs' hydrophilicity. Experimental data from adsorption indicated proper matching with the sips isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic. Moreover, adsorbent reusability of about 7 times showed its satisfactory performance in nickel removing. [Display omitted] •Successful functionalizing CNT with Deep eutectic solvent (DES) and KMnO4.•Employing DES-modified CNT as the adsorbent for nickel ion removal from water.•Maximum adsorption capacity of 115.8 mg of nickel per gr of DES-treated CNTs.•Up to 90% removal rate of nickel by the DES-CNT adsorbent at optimum conditions.•Acting with more than 70% of its initial adsorption after using it for seven times.