Facile preparation of nitrogen and sulfur co-doped graphene-based aerogel for simultaneous removal of Cd2+ and organic dyes

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 25; no. 21; pp. 21164 - 21175
• Main Authors: Kong, Qiaoping, Wei, Chaohai, Preis, Sergei, Hu, Yun, Wang, Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.07.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adsorption; Aerogels; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Color removal; Diffusion rate; Dyes; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Functional groups; Graphene; Heavy metals; Methylene blue; Nitrogen; Organic compounds; Research Article; Safranin-O; Sulfur; Sulfur sources; Synergism; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Cd; Simultaneous adsorption; Graphene-based aerogel; 2,5-Dithiobisurea; Organic dyes
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2195-8

The need in simultaneous removal of heavy metals and organic compounds dictates the development of synthetic adsorbents with tailor-made properties. A nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) co-doped graphene-based aerogel (GBA) modified with 2,5-dithiobisurea was synthesized hydrothermally for simultaneous adsorption of Cd 2+ and organic dyes—safranin-O (SO), crystal violet (CV), and methylene blue (MB). 2,5-Dithiobisurea was used as nitrogen and sulfur sources to introduce N and S-containing functional group onto graphene oxide. The adsorption mechanism of GBA towards Cd 2+ and organic dyes was studied by Dumwald-Wagner models and the results showed that surface and intraparticle diffusion was the key factor in controlling the rate of adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacities of GBA towards Cd 2+ , SO, CV, and MB comprised 1.755, 0.949, 0.538, and 0.389 mmol/g in monocomponent system, respectively. Adsorption synergism was observed with respect to Cd 2+ in presence of the dyes. The performance of GBA with respect to Cd 2+ removal from binary solutions, Cd 2+ -SO, Cd 2+ -CV, and Cd 2+ -MB, was enhanced by the presence of the dyes significantly, while the adsorption capacities towards the dyes were not affected by the presence of Cd 2+ .