Graphene oxide/ferric hydroxide composites for efficient arsenate removal from drinking water

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Arsenate contamination in drinking water poses significant health risks.
• Developing efficient and cost-effective water purification methods is crucial.
• Graphene oxide (GO) shows potential as a matrix for adsorbent materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel graphene oxide (GO) composites for effective arsenate removal.
• To investigate the synthesis and characterization of GO-ferric hydroxide composites.
• To evaluate the performance of these composites in removing arsenate from contaminated drinking water.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of GO-ferric hydroxide composites using ferrous sulfate, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonium hydroxide.
• Characterization of composite morphology and composition using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.
• Batch experiments to assess arsenate removal efficiency and absorption capacity at various pH levels.

Main Results:

• Homogeneous impregnation of amorphous ferric hydroxide onto GO sheets was confirmed.
• The composite GO-Fe-5 demonstrated over 95% arsenate removal from water with an initial concentration of 51.14 ppm.
• High arsenate absorption capacity of 23.78 mg/g was achieved.
• Effective arsenate removal was observed in a wide pH range (4-9), with decreased efficiency above pH 8.

Conclusions:

• The developed GO-ferric hydroxide composites are highly effective for arsenate removal from contaminated drinking water.
• The material exhibits excellent absorption capacity and performance over a broad pH range.
• These novel composites represent a promising advancement in water purification technologies.