Synthesis of nanocomposites using xylan and graphite oxide for remediation of cationic dyes in aqueous solutions

Due to the rapid development of industrialization, the water resources on which we depend are facing unprecedented challenges. Dyes, as an indispensable substance in our lives, have caused great pollution to the water resources in nature, and the removal of dyes from wastewater is becoming an important topic. A porous xylan/poly(acrylic acid)/graphite oxide nanocomposite was prepared by graft polymerization and used for adsorption of cationic ethyl violet dye in wastewaters in this paper. Various techniques, i.e., Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, were used to study this composite. Adsorption isotherm measurements showed that the composite's adsorption behavior fits the Langmuir isotherm adsorption model. Adsorption tests showed that this material has excellent adsorption properties; the maximum adsorption capacity for ethyl violet dye was 273.99 mg/g. Investigation of the adsorption mechanism indicated that electrostatic forces and π-π effects are mainly involved in adsorption. Desorption cycling tests showed that the adsorption efficiency of the composite was still over 95% after 3 cycles. These results show that this porous xylan/poly (acrylic acid)/graphite oxide nanocomposite has potential applications in cationic dye removal.