Graphene oxide-based dendritic adsorbent for the excellent capturing of platinum group elements

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Platinum group elements (PGEs) are valuable but challenging to recover from acidic industrial effluents.
• Existing adsorbents often lack sufficient capacity or stability in highly acidic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel amino-functionalized graphene oxide-based dendritic adsorbent (GODA).
• To evaluate the sorption capacity and efficiency of GODA for platinum (Pt(IV)) and palladium (Pd(II)) from highly acidic aqueous solutions.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and detailed characterization of GODA.
• Batch adsorption experiments including kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic studies.
• Evaluation of adsorption mechanisms, thermal stability, and acid resistance at pH 1.

Main Results:

• GODA achieved record sorption capacities: 827.8 mg/g for Pt(IV) and 890.7 mg/g for Pd(II) at pH 1.
• Adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models, indicating spontaneous and efficient binding.
• The adsorbent demonstrated high thermal stability, acid resistance, and excellent reusability over five cycles.

Conclusions:

• GODA is a highly effective and stable adsorbent for recovering platinum and palladium from acidic media.
• The material's superior performance and reusability suggest significant potential for practical applications in precious metal recovery.