Facile preparation of 3D regenerated cellulose/graphene oxide composite aerogel with high-efficiency adsorption towards methylene blue

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science Vol. 532; pp. 58 - 67
• Main Authors: Ren, Fang, Li, Zhen, Tan, Wen-Zhen, Liu, Xiao-Hui, Sun, Zhen-Feng, Ren, Peng-Gang, Yan, Ding-Xiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.12.2018
• Subjects: adsorbents; Adsorption; Aerogel; aerogels; cellulose; electrostatic interactions; freeze drying; Graphene oxide; Methylene blue; municipal wastewater; Regenerated cellulose; sorption isotherms; surface area; Graphene oxide; Adsorption; Aerogel; Regenerated cellulose; Methylene blue
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.07.101

A 3D regenerated cellulose/graphene oxide (RCE/GO) composite aerogel was prepared via a simple and effective freeze-drying method. The prepared RCE/GO composite aerogel exhibited outstanding dye elimination efficiency, adsorption-rate and reusability for methylene blue (MB), which was attributed to the perfect 3D network structure and large specific surface area of GO. Also, the adsorption of RCE/GO composite aerogel was driven by electrostatic interactions and followed pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm model. [Display omitted] •RCE/GO composite aerogel was easily prepared via a novel and feasible method.•RCE/GO exhibits good adsorption of MB dye due to the presence of GO.•The adsorption was driven by electrostatic interactions and followed pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm model. Composite aerogels consisting of graphene oxide (GO) and regenerated cellulose (RCE) were prepared via a solution mixing-regeneration and freeze-drying process. The prepared RCE/GO composites aerogel exhibited 3D network thin-walled pore structure with large specific surface area, also favorable compression recovery capability, outstanding dye elimination efficiency and reusability after the addition of GO. With addition of only 0.5 wt% GO, the methylene blue (MB) elimination efficiency of RCE/GO aerogel reached 99.0% and still remained at 90.5% after five-time reused under oscillation adsorption. In addition, our research indicates that the excellent MB adsorption of RCE/GO composite aerogel was driven by electrostatic interactions and followed a pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetic and monolayer Langmuir adsorption isotherm. This investigation provides the guidance for the development of green environmental adsorbents to remove organic dye from sewage water.