Adsorption capacities of reduced graphene oxide: effect of reductants

Abstract

In this work, graphene oxide was reduced at low temperature using ascorbic acid and urea as the reductant. The obtained reduced graphene oxides were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area measurements (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and LECO combustion analysis. Bath adsorption experiments onto methylene blue were carried out to study the effect of adsorbents based on adsorbent dosage, pH solution and contact time parameters. Graphene oxide reduced by ascorbic acid shows a higher adsorption capacity comparing with using urea as a reductant. The adsorption capacities of both adsorbents were fully agreed with their specific surface areas and the degree of restoration of π-conjugation parameters.