An effectively and functionally magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) nano-composite (APCNT-KOH) was synthesized by a one-pot and facile method. The residual Fe catalyst particles of the as-prepared multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) were utilized through KOH activation. . The resulting APCNT-KOH have much higher adsorption capacities than many other adsorbents, which are due to the increased BET and adsorption sites on the surfaces of APCNT-KOH. The iron oxide in APCNTs-KOH has not become significant for TEX adsorption. But it is super-paramagnetic at room temperature and can be separated by an magnet. The carbon nanotubes in APCNTs-KOH composites play an important role in TEX adsorption. We also have investigated the adsorption-desorption isotherms of TEX on APCNTs-KOH at different temperature and observed desorption hysteresis for TEX due to the rearrangement of bundles or aggregates of nanomaterials after TEX adsorption. The TEX adsorption on APCNT-KOH was a spontaneous and exothermic process. It is not significantly affected by pH and ionic strength of solution suggesting that APCNT-KOH can act as strong adsorbents under a wide range of conditions. All results demonstrate that the functionalized magnetic APCNT-KOH composites are highly-effective adsorbents for TEX removal and thus could provide a promising and green route for MWCNTs in environmental pollution treatment.

Functionalized magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes composites for TEX removal

251st National Meeting (2016)

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