Graphene Oxide/Polyamidoamine G4 as a High Efficient and Eco-Friendly Adsorbent for Dichromate Ions

In this study, GO/PAMAM4 was used as a biocompatible nanocomposite adsorbent to adsorb dichromate (DC) ions. In alkaline solutions, DC ions changed to chromate ions which were not adsorbed on the surface of adsorbent. Thus, experiments were carried out in acidic and neutral water solution. Under these conditions, adsorption sites of adsorbent were protonated primary and ternary amine groups of adsorbent shown as -NH3+  and -NHR2+, respectively, that adsorbed DC ions through electrostatic interaction. Adsorption isotherms of DC on GO/PAMAM4 were obtained under various ionic strengths, pHs and temperatures. Isotherms were analyzed by the ARIAN model. The highest observed adsorption capacity of this process was 246.7 mg g-1 at pH=0 and 318 K. Tests at pH=2 showed that this process was endothermic. Adsorption kinetic experiments were carried out under various initial DC concentrations, pHs, temperatures, shaking rates and ionic strengths and were analyzed by the KASRA model and intraparticle diffusion, ISO and NIPPON equations. Pb2+, Cd2+, Cr3+ and tannic acid (TA) were separated by GO/PAMAM4 from DC ions and the GO/PAMAM4 was recycled by using an alkaline solution.