Direct surface functionalization of graphene oxide with ionic liquid through gamma ray irradiation induced radical polymerization with remarkable enhanced adsorption capacity

A facile one-step synthesis method based on Gamma ray irradiation induced radical polymerization was proposed for the first time for preparation of graphene oxide-ionic liquid composites (GO@IL) using 3-n-Hexadecyl-1-vinylimidazolium bromide ([C(16)VIm(+)] [Br-]) as the monomer. The GO@IL composites were utilized as adsorbents for adsorption and separation of Sunset Yellow (SY) and chromium (Cr, VI) ions from the stock solution. The maximum adsorption capacities of prepared GO@IL to adsorb SY and Cr (VI) were observed in the acidic media at room temperature, with the maximum adsorption capacities of 169.6 and 75.8 mg g(-1), respectively. Various adsorption kinetics and isotherm models were employed to fit adsorption data to better understand the adsorption process and behavior of contaminants onto GO@IL surfaces. The value of Delta G(0) and Delta H-0 implied the adsorption were initiative and endothermic nature for SY and Cr (VI). The electrostatic and pi - pi stacking interactions were expected to be involved in the adsorption for SY and Cr (VI) onto the functionalized graphene oxide composite. These data illuminate that the adsorption performance of graphene oxides has enhanced remarkable after polymerization with [C(16)VIm(+)] [Br-] on their surface. Considering the regeneration ability, the easily synthetic GO@IL composites with great promise applications for wastewater treatment and purification. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V.