Preparation of a novel graphene oxide/Fe-Mn composite and its application for aqueous Hg(II) removal

Jingchun Tang; Yao Huang; Yanyan Gong; Honghong Lyu; Qilin Wang; Jianli Ma

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.05.028

Preparation of a novel graphene oxide/Fe-Mn composite and its application for aqueous Hg(II) removal

J Hazard Mater. 2016 Oct 5:316:151-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.05.028. Epub 2016 May 10.

Authors

Jingchun Tang¹, Yao Huang², Yanyan Gong³, Honghong Lyu², Qilin Wang⁴, Jianli Ma⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China.
² College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
³ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Tianjin 300350, China. Electronic address: yanyangong@nankai.edu.cn.
⁴ Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
⁵ Tianjin Academy of Environmental Sciences, Tianjin 300191, China.

PMID: 27232726
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.05.028

Abstract

A novel graphene oxide/Fe-Mn (GO/Fe-Mn) composite was synthesized (molar ratio of Fe/Mn=3/1 and mass ratio of Fe/GO=1/7.5) and investigated for the sorption characteristics and mechanisms of aqueous mercury (Hg(2+)) as well as the biological effects to wheat and rice. Characterization tests showed that Fe-Mn oxides were impregnated onto GO sheets in an amorphous form through oxygen-containing functional groups (i.e., CO, epoxy COC, carboxyl OCO, and CO) and π-π interactions. GO/Fe-Mn possessed large surface area, surface enhanced Raman scattering with more sp(3) defects, and greater thermal stability than GO. XPS analysis revealed that Fe2O3, FeOOH, MnO2, MnOOH, and MnO were the dominant metal oxides in GO/Fe-Mn. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Sips isotherm model fitted well with the sorption kinetic and isotherm data. The maximum sorption capacity for mercury was 32.9mg/g. Ligand exchange and surface complexation were the dominant mechanisms for mercury removal. GO/Fe-Mn greatly reduced the bioavailability of mercury to wheat and rice, even promoted the seedling growth. This work suggests that GO/Fe-Mn can be used as an effective and environmental-friendly adsorbent in heavy metal remediation.

Keywords: Biological effects; Graphene oxide/Fe-Mn; Mercury removal; Sorption; Water treatment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't