Rapid degradation of dyes in water by magnetic Fe(0)/Fe3O4/graphene composites

J Environ Sci (China). 2016 Jun:44:148-157. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2015.11.022. Epub 2016 Feb 1.

Abstract

Magnetic Fe(0)/Fe3O4/graphene has been successfully synthesized by a one-step reduction method and investigated in rapid degradation of dyes in this work. The material was characterized by N2 sorption-desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that Fe(0)/Fe3O4/graphene had a layered structure with Fe crystals highly dispersed in the interlayers of graphene, which could enhance the mass transfer process between Fe(0)/Fe3O4/graphene and pollutants. Fe(0)/Fe3O4/graphene exhibited ferromagnetism and could be easily separated and re-dispersed for reuse in water. Typical dyes, such as Methyl Orange, Methylene Blue and Crystal Violet, could be decolorized by Fe(0)/Fe3O4/graphene rapidly. After 20min, the decolorization efficiencies of methyl orange, methylene blue and crystal violet were 94.78%, 91.60% and 89.07%, respectively. The reaction mechanism of Fe(0)/Fe3O4/graphene with dyes mainly included adsorption and enhanced reduction by the composite. Thus, Fe(0)/Fe3O4/graphene prepared by the one-step reduction method has excellent performance in removal of dyes in water.

Keywords: Dyes; Fe(0)/Fe(3)O(4)/graphene; Magnetic; Reduction; Removal.

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Coloring Agents / chemistry*
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry*
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Magnetics
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Photoelectron Spectroscopy
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*
  • Water Purification / methods
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Graphite