Removal of emerging persistent organic pollutants (Em-POPs) model compounds from water using a natural porous material functionalized with graphene-based products

This study focuses on the removal of three model compounds, classified as emerging persistent organic pollutants (Em-POPs), from water using a modified version of natural Australian zeolite. Following a series of subsequent treatments and vacuum deposition of graphene oxide (GO), both chemical and physical properties of the adsorbent were characterized. The GO-coated zeolite was tested for the removal of methylene blue (MB), disperse blue 26 (DB26), and sodium fluorescein (NaFn). Results show excellent removal capability for MB and DB26 dyes and decent removal for NaFn when compared to commercially available products such as granular activated carbon. Regeneration of the adsorbent showed virtually no loss in adsorptive performance after two cycles, with MB and DB26.