Hydrothermal Synthesis of Ultra-Light Coal-Based Graphene Oxide Aerogel for Efficient Removal of Dyes from Aqueous Solutions

A novel carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-supported graphene oxide aerogel (CGOA) was fabricated from a cost-effective and abundant bituminous coal by a mild hydrothermal process and freeze-drying treatment. Such an aerogel has cross-linked graphene oxide layers supported by CMC, and therefore, displays...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: You Lv, Baolin Xing, Mingkun Zheng, Guiyun Yi, Guangxu Huang, Chuanxiang Zhang, Ruifu Yuan, Zhengfei Chen, Yijun Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-08-01
Series:Nanomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/8/9/670
Description
Summary:A novel carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-supported graphene oxide aerogel (CGOA) was fabricated from a cost-effective and abundant bituminous coal by a mild hydrothermal process and freeze-drying treatment. Such an aerogel has cross-linked graphene oxide layers supported by CMC, and therefore, displays high mechanical strength while having ultra-low density (8.257 mg·cm−3). The CGOA has a 3D interconnected porous structure, beneficial graphene framework defects and abundant oxygen-containing functional groups, which offer favorable diffusion channels and effective adsorption sites for the transport and adsorption of dye molecules. The adsorption performance of rhodamine B by an optimized CGOA shows a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 312.50 mg·g−1, as determined by Langmuir isotherm parameters. This CGOA exhibited a better adsorption efficiency (99.99%) in alkaline solution, and satisfactory stability (90.60%) after three cycles. In addition, adsorption experiments on various dyes have revealed that CGOA have better adsorption capacities for cationic dyes than anionic dyes.
ISSN:2079-4991