Synthesis and application of 3D graphene nanocomposite for the removal of cationic dyes from aqueous solutions: Response surface methodology design

In this study, functionalized 3D graphene (magnetic citric acid-functionalized 3D graphene nano composite (MCF3DG)) was designed and synthesized via a One-Step hydrothermal process and it was used as a novel adsorbent for the removal of crystal violet (CV) dye from aqueous solution as a cationic dye model. The products have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (MR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), energy-dispersive Xray spectroscopy (EDX), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Response surface methodology (RSM) has been applied in order to study the influence of experimental factors (initial pH, initial dye concentration, contact time and adsorbent dosage) on the removal efficiency of CV dye with MCF3DG as an adsorbent. The results from RSM indicated that the efficiency of CV removal is 100% under the optimum conditions of experimental factors (pH = 7.5, amount of adsorbent = 28 mg, CV concentration = 18 mg/L and contact time = 12 min). The obtained experimental results suggest that the MCF3DG is a very good candidate for the rapid removal of crystal violet (CV) as a cationic dye model from aqueous solutions. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.