Laser synthesis of magnetite-partially reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites for arsenate removal from water

Herein, we report the development of a facile process for the synthesis of magnetite-partially reduced graphene oxide (Mag-PRGO) without the use of chemical reducing agents or solvents for the efficient removal of arsenate As(V) ions from contaminated water. The Mag-PRGO is synthesized using the laser vaporization-controlled condensation method where a compressed target consisting of metallic iron (Fe) powder and solid graphene oxide (GO) is laser vaporized in an O-2-He atmosphere resulting in the simultaneous oxidation of the Fe nanoparticles and the partial reduction of the GO to form the Mag-PRGO nanocomposite where the magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles are anchored to the surface of the PRGO nanosheets. FTIR, Raman, XPS, XRD, TEM, and SEM confirm the successful attachment of the magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles to the PRGO nanosheets. The Mag-PRGO (50 wt% Fe) adsorbent shows exceptional selectivity for the extraction of As(V) ions with a capacity of 132 mg/g with no leaching of Fe ions into the solution, placing it among the best carbon-based materials for the efficient removal of As(V) from aqueous solutions. The Mag-PRGO displays a 100% removal of As(V) at concentrations up to 100 ppm with 98% and 100% removal within 15 min and 30 min, respectively, at 50 ppm concentration. The excellent agreement of the experimental sorption isotherms with the Langmuir model suggests a monolayer adsorption behavior. The mechanism of As(V) removal is based on surface complexation between the protonated hydroxyl groups on the surface of Mag-PRGO and the monobasic and dibasic arsenate anions forming (Fe-O-As) bonds as confirmed by FTIR and XPS. The Mag-PRGO is easily regenerated with the desorption of the As(V) ions reaching 99% from their maximum sorption capacities using NaOH. The efficient magnetic separation and high chemical stability of Mag-PRGO are demonstrated over six adsorption-desorption cycles of As(V). The Mag-PRGO is proposed as an excellent remediation adsorbent for the extraction of As(V) from contaminated water.