Simultaneous removal of dye and heavy metals in a single step reaction using PVA/MWCNT composites

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), due to their van der Waals forces and π–π interaction, have great potential as a strong material resource for environmental water purification. Herein, we reported the purification of industrial effluent using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite materials. It is demonstrated that the removal of methyl red dye and heavy metals can be driven simultaneously by using efficient composite materials. The methyl red dye present in an aqueous solution of effluent formed hydrogen bonds with PVA polymers and adsorbed, simultaneously, the heavy metals also adsorbed on the cylindrical hollow structure of MWCNTs and removed them. The environmentally friendly removal of dye and heavy metals was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, chemical oxygen demand tests, X-ray diffraction and UV-visible spectrophotometry.