Development of graphene oxide-based styrene/acrylic elastomeric disks from sugarcane bagasse as adsorbents of Nickel (II) ions

In this study, we prepared graphene oxide-based styrene/acrylic elastomeric disks (GSAE) from sugarcane bagasse/ferrocene (GO) and styrene/acrylic emulsion (SAE) to apply as new adsorbents for Ni(II) from aqueous media. The adsorption activity of Ni(II) from aqueous environments by the prepared elastomeric disks was investigated against time, temperature, and concentration of adsorbate in a batch system. Environmentally-friendly graphene oxide (GO) was successfully synthesized in a single step starting from sugarcane bagasse via oxidation in the presence of ferrocene under muffled atmospheric conditions. SAE copolymers were then grafted with the generated GO nanosheets at different weight ratios of (SAE: GO) 0:1, 0.25:1, 0.5:1, 0.75:1 and 1:1 to produce the corresponding GSAE elastomeric disks represented. The synthesized adsorbents were studied using various analytical techniques. Those technical methods proved that the thermal stability, crystallinity, and mean hydrogen bond strength (MHBS) of the prepared GSAE elastomers decreased, and porosity increased upon increasing the total content value of SAE. The highest removal percentages of Ni(II) were accomplished at 98.48 and 96.62% for weight ratios 0.5:1, 0.75:1, respectively for 15 min at 318 K.

Automated summary

In this study, graphene oxide-based styrene/acrylic elastomeric disks were prepared and used as adsorbents for Ni(II) from aqueous media. The highest removal percentages of Ni(II) were achieved at specific weight ratios for a certain duration.