The synthesis of graphene oxide functionalized with dithiocarbamate group and its prominent performance on adsorption of lead ions

A novel adsorbent, dithiocarbamate group functionalized graphene oxide (DTC-GO), was prepared to promote the adsorption efficiency for Pb(II) ions in aqueous solution. To get insight of the structure and property of DTC-GO, the technologies of Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Raman spectra were used. All characteristic results verified the successful introduction of dithiocarbamate group on graphene oxide. The effects of contact time, solution pH, initial metal ions concentration and temperature on the adsorption of Pb(II) with DTC-GO were studied systematically. The adsorption models of isotherms and kinetics were employed to investigate the adsorption mechanism. Based on experimental data, Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models showed a better correspondence to the adsorption process. Furthermore, the maximum uptake of DTC-GO obtained from Langmuir isotherm reached to 132.01 mg/g. The values of Delta G(theta) and Delta H-0 calculated from the experimental data indicated that the nature of the interaction between Pb (II) and DTC-GO was not only feasible and spontaneous but also exothermic in all cases. (C) 2016 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.