Graphene-based materials are gaining heightened attention as novel materials for environmental applications The unique physicochemical properties of graphene, notably its exceptionally high surface area, electron mobility, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength, can lead to novel or improved technologies to address the pressing global environmental challenges This critical review assesses the recent developments in the use of graphene-based materials as sorbent or photocatalytic materials for environmental decontamination, as building blocks for next generation water treatment and desalination membranes, and as electrode materials for contaminant monitoring or removal The most promising areas of research are highlighted, with a discussion of the main challenges that we need to overcome in order to fully realize the exceptional properties of graphene in environmental applications

Environmental applications of graphene-based nanomaterials.

Role of nanomaterials in water treatment applications: a review.

Surface functional groups of carbon-based adsorbents and their roles in the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions: A critical review.

A review on heavy metal ions adsorption from water by graphene oxide and its composites

Graphene oxide-supported polyaniline (PANI@GO) composites were synthesized by chemical oxidation and were characterized by SEM, Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy, TGA, potentiometric titrations, and XPS. The characterization indicated that PANI can be grafted onto the surface of GO nanosheets successfully. The sorption of U(VI), Eu(III), Sr(II), and Cs(I) from aqueous solutions as a function of pH and initial concentration on the PANI@GO composites was investigated. The maximum sorption capacities of U(VI), Eu(III), Sr(II), and Cs(I) on the PANI@GO composites at pH 3.0 and T = 298 K calculated from the Langmuir model were 1.03, 1.65, 1.68, and 1.39 mmol·g–1, respectively. According to the XPS analysis of the PANI@GO composites before and after Eu(III) desorption, nitrogen- and oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of PANI@GO composites were responsible for radionuclide sorption, and that radionuclides can hardly be extracted from the nitrogen-containing functional groups. Therefore, the chemical a...

Highly efficient enrichment of radionuclides on graphene oxide-supported polyaniline

The adsorptive properties of graphene oxide (GO) towards divalent metal ions (copper, zinc, cadmium and lead) were investigated GO prepared through the oxidation of graphite using potassium dichromate was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) The results of batch experiments and measurements by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS) indicate that maximum adsorption can be achieved in broad pH ranges: 3–7 for Cu(II), 5–8 for Zn(II), 4–8 for Cd(II), 3–7 for Pb(II) The maximum adsorption capacities of Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) on GO at pH = 5 are 294, 345, 530, 1119 mg g−1, respectively The competitive adsorption experiments showed the affinity in the order of Pb(II) > Cu(II) ≫ Cd(II) > Zn(II) Adsorption isotherms and kinetic studies suggest that sorption of metal ions on GO nanosheets is monolayer coverage and adsorption is controlled by chemical adsorption involving the strong surface complexation of metal ions with the oxygen-containing groups on the surface of GO Chemisorption was confirmed by XPS (binding energy and shape of O1s and C1s peaks) of GO with adsorbed metal ions The adsorption experiments show that the dispersibility of GO in water changes remarkably after complexation of metal ions After adsorption, the tendency to agglomerate and precipitate is observed Excellent dispersibility of GO and strong tendency of GO–Me(II) to precipitate open the path to removal of heavy metals from water solution Potential application of GO in analytical chemistry as a solid sorbent for preconcentration of trace elements and in heavy metal ion pollution cleanup results from its maximum adsorption capacities that are much higher than those of any of the currently reported sorbents

Adsorption of divalent metal ions from aqueous solutions using graphene oxide

Three-dimensional (3D) lead halide perovskites have emerged as a promising class of coordination polymers for solar cells, photodetectors, and light-emitting devices. These compounds thus far compr...

Methylhydrazinium Lead Bromide: Noncentrosymmetric Three-Dimensional Perovskite with Exceptionally Large Framework Distortion and Green Photoluminescence

In this paper, graphene oxide/cellulose membranes were prepared in order to perform effective adsorption of heavy metal ions: cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead. Two types of membranes were fabricated, i.e. pressed and non-pressed membranes. The experiment showed that the pressed membranes are highly durable at different pH values, even in basic solutions, and they can be applied in separation/removal of heavy metal ions during vigorous shaking in the aqueous solution. The non-pressed membranes were proved to be less stable, however, they can be successfully applied in the filtration process at the high flow-rates. The results of the batch experiments and the measurements by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) indicated that the maximum adsorption can be achieved at pH 4–8. Adsorption isotherms and kinetic studies indicated that the sorption of the metal ions on the membranes occurs in a monolayer coverage, hence it is controlled by the chemical adsorption involving the strong surface complexation of metal ions with the oxygen-containing groups on the surface of graphene oxide. The maximum adsorption capacity values of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) on the graphene oxide/cellulose membranes at the pH of 4.5 are 15.5, 14.3, 26.6, 16.7, 26.8, 107.9 mg g−1, respectively. The competitive adsorption experiments showed the affinities of prepared membranes for the metal ions in the order of Pb > Cu > Cd > Zn ≥ Ni ≥ Co. The affinity order agrees with the first stability constant of the associated metal hydroxide and acetate. The adsorption properties of the graphene oxide/cellulose membranes, their reusability (more than 10 cycles) and durability in the aqueous solutions open the path to removal of heavy metals from water solution. The membranes can be also used in the field of analytical chemistry for the preconcentration and/or separation of trace and ultratrace metal ions.

Graphene oxide/cellulose membranes in adsorption of divalent metal ions

The aminosilanized graphene oxide (GO-NH2) was prepared for selective adsorption of Pb(II) ions. Graphene oxide (GO) and GO-NH2 prepared through the amino-silanization of GO with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The batch experiments show that GO-NH2 is characterized by high selectivity toward Pb(II) ions. Adsorption isotherms suggest that sorption of Pb(II) on GO-NH2 nanosheets is monolayer coverage, and adsorption is controlled by a chemical process involving the surface complexation of Pb(II) ions with the nitrogen-containing groups on the surface of GO-NH2. Pb(II) ions can be quantitatively adsorbed at pH 6 with maximum adsorption capacity of 96 mg g–1. The GO-NH2 was used for selective and sensitive determination of Pb(II) ions by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS). The preconcentration of Pb(II) ions is based on dispersive micro solid-phase extractio...

Suspended aminosilanized graphene oxide nanosheets for selective preconcentration of lead ions and ultrasensitive determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

Formation of noncentrosymmetric three-dimensional (3D) lead halide perovskites has been a widely sought after goal because the polar structure opens up new vistas to properties of these materials, ...

Three-Dimensional Perovskite Methylhydrazinium Lead Chloride with Two Polar Phases and Unusual Second-Harmonic Generation Bistability above Room Temperature

Anna Gagor

Papers

Adsorption of divalent metal ions from aqueous solutions using graphene oxide

Methylhydrazinium Lead Bromide: Noncentrosymmetric Three-Dimensional Perovskite with Exceptionally Large Framework Distortion and Green Photoluminescence

Graphene oxide/cellulose membranes in adsorption of divalent metal ions

Suspended aminosilanized graphene oxide nanosheets for selective preconcentration of lead ions and ultrasensitive determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

Three-Dimensional Perovskite Methylhydrazinium Lead Chloride with Two Polar Phases and Unusual Second-Harmonic Generation Bistability above Room Temperature