A functionalized graphene aerogel for efficient water purification. Issue 1 (29th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cao, Chuan; Ren, Jing; Lv, Yong-Kang; Ren, Rui-Peng
• Is Part Of: Green materials. Volume 9:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2020-07-29
• Subjects: adsorption -- carbon -- functional nanomaterials; Biodegradable plastics -- Periodicals; Building materials -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 620.192
• DOI: 10.1680/jgrma.20.00003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-1220

Abstract

Abstract : Water pollution has become a worldwide problem due to ever-increasing industrial wastewater. An ideal adsorbing material is able to remove oils, organic solvents and dyes from water efficiently, particularly with a high adsorption capacity and reusability. Herein, the authors report a novel strategy of synthesis of a three-dimensional functionalized graphene aerogel (FGA) with porous structures for effective water purification. The FGA is prepared by a facile one-step hydrothermal method, in which graphene oxide is reduced by ethylenediamine and modified by dodecyltrimethoxysilane to enhance hydrophobicity. When used as an adsorbing material, the FGA exhibits a high adsorption capacity (130–242 g/g for oils and organic solvents, 197–596 mg/g for dyes). Furthermore, the FGA also exhibits high reusability and durability by being reused for organic solvent–water separation for ten cycles without losing its hydrophobicity, which makes it a good candidate for industrial water treatment.