Fabrication, characterization, and adsorption capacity of Fe3O4/graphene oxide nanocomposites for nickel removal

Abstract

In this research, graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized via modified Hummers’ method and for the preparation of Fe₃O₄/GO nanocomposites by impregnation method. Characterization of the nanocomposites was performed by X–ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, specific surface area, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The concentration of Ni (II) ion in solutions was determined using UV-Visible spectrophoto-meter. The adsorption capacity for Ni (II) removal was examined with respect to pH effect, kinetic data and equilibrium isotherms in batch experiments. The maximum adsorption capacity of the Fe₃O₄/GO estimated with the Langmuir-isotherm model for Ni (II) was 27.62 mg/g at room temperature.