A novel structured graphene oxide@microalgae nanohybrids as adsorbents for removal of Cr(VI) ions in aqueous solutions
Rolivhuwa Mulovhedzi, Kholiswa Yokwana, Timothy O. Ajiboye, Adeniyi S. Ogunlaja, Sabelo D. Mhlanga
Abstract
Abstract Novel structured graphene oxide@microalgae-based nanohybrids have been prepared by incorporating green microalgae biomass (Algae) with graphene oxide (GO) or N-doped graphene oxide (NGO) in different ratios (e.g., 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3). Biogenic GO-Algae and NGO-Algae nanohybrids were synthesized via a self-assembly method. Morphological and structural characterizations and adsorption performance of the nanostructured material towards Cr(VI) species were studied extensively. The removal of Cr(VI) species by GO-Algae and NGO-Algae nanohybrids was highly pH dependent, with the maximum adsorption removal occurring at pH 2. The results indicate that the adsorption of Cr(VI) by GO-Algae and NGO-Algae nanohybrids was as follows: GO@Algae-3:1 (90.5%) < GO@Algae-1:1 (98.7%) < GO@Algae-1:3 (99.6%) and NGO@Algae-3:1 (79.2%) < NGO@Algae-1:1 (82.3%) < NGO@Algae-1:3 (92.6%), respectively. The GO: Algae-1:3 and NGO: Algae-1:3 nanohybrids with a high microalgae content ratio exhibited high maximum removal, owing to the presence of more active sites within their lattice compared to their counterparts. On the other hand, pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion, Langmuir, and Freundlich models adequately simulated adsorption mechanisms, suggesting that the adsorption process involved a combination of external mass transfer and chemisorption, with electrostatic and complexation interactions being the dominant mechanisms for Cr(VI) removal. Additionally, GO@Algae-1:3 and NGO@Algae-1:3 displayed outstanding reusability. Therefore, these structured graphene@microalgae-based nanohybrids can simultaneously serve as adsorbents for Cr(VI) removal from wastewater and contaminated water sources.