Graphene oxide-iron oxide and reduced graphene oxide-iron oxide hybrid materials for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) were both decorated with iron oxide nanoparticles and were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The adsorption of Pb(II), 1-naphthol, and 1-naphthylamine, as representatives of inorganic and organic pollutants, on GO-iron oxides and RGO-iron oxides was investigated. The results showed that the GO-iron oxide material was a good adsorbent for Pb(II) but not for 1-naphthol and 1-naphthylamine due to oxygen-containing groups on the surface, whereas the RGO-iron oxide material was a good adsorbent for 1-naphthol and 1-naphthylamine but not for Pb(II). The adsorption of 1-naphthol and 1-naphthylamine on RGO-iron oxides was an endothermic and spontaneous process. Both materials can be easily separated by magnetic separation.