Self-Supported Reduced Graphene Oxide Membrane and Its Cu2+ Adsorption Capability

Graphene stratiform membrane materials have been recently applied to heavy metal removal in aqueous systems via adsorption due to their high mechanical strength, chemical stability, and other properties. We applied reduced graphene oxide (rGO) alone as an adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions from wastewater. Self-supported rGO membrane was prepared using a green reduction method with sodium hydrosulfite. We used the Raman spectra to observe the structure of the rGO membrane. The morphology of the self-supported membrane was measured by a scanning electron microscope. The Cu2+ adsorption performance was measured in terms of pH, reaction time, metal ion concentration, and temperature. The maximum Cu2+ adsorption capacity of the rGO membrane was found to be 149.25 mg/g. The adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and adsorption isotherms were simulated by the Freundlich model.

Automated summary

Graphene stratiform membrane materials have been utilized for heavy metal removal in aqueous systems due to their unique properties. In this study, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) membrane was used to adsorb Cu2+ ions from wastewater, showing a maximum adsorption capacity of 149.25 mg/g. The adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the adsorption isotherms were well represented by the Freundlich model.