An Enhanced Reduction–Adsorption Strategy for Cr(VI): Fabrication and Application of <scp>L</scp>-Cysteine-doped Carbon@Polypyrrole with a Core/Shell Composite Structure
Yinhui Li, Longfei Peng, Jun Guo, Zan Chen
Abstract
Reclamation and recycling of heavy metal ions can offer environmental protection and sustainable development. Here, we report the preparation of L-cysteine (L-cys)-doped glucose carbon sphere (GCS)@polypyrrole (PPy) composites (GCS@PPy/L-cys). The adsorption performance and mechanism of GCS@PPy/L-cys toward Cr(VI) from water were investigated in detail. The chromate enrichment on GCS@PPy is significantly facilitated by doping with L-cys, which prevents the oxidative collapse of the structure. This approach leads to many reduction-adsorption sites that reduce the highly hazardous Cr(VI) into less toxic Cr(III). More significantly, the composite can be reused to fabricate supercapacitors that avoid secondary pollution. This strategy offers high-efficiency treatment and sustainable utilization of hypervalent metals in water.