The development of a ternary nanocomposite for the removal of Cr(vi) ions from aqueous solutions

Abstract

The aim of this study is to develop a ternary nanocomposite (NC) of polyaniline (PANI)/2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPSA)-capped silver nanoparticles (NPs)/graphene oxide quantum dots (PANI/Ag (AMPSA)/GO QDs) as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of the highly toxic hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from polluted water. PANI/Ag (AMPSA)/GO QDs NC was synthesized via in situ oxidative polymerization. The effects of pH, adsorbent dose, initial concentration, temperature, contact time, ionic strength and co-existing ions on the removal of Cr(VI) by PANI/Ag (AMPSA)/GO QDs were investigated. The PANI/Ag (AMPSA)/GO QDs NC (25.0 mg) removed 99.9% of Cr(VI) from an aqueous solution containing 60 mg L⁻¹ Cr(VI) ions at pH 2. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP) studies confirmed the adsorption of Cr(VI) and that some of the adsorbed Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III). Cr(VI) removal by the PANI/Ag (AMPSA)/GO QDs NC followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model, and the removal was highly selective for Cr(VI) in the presence of other co-existing ions. In summary, the PANI/Ag (AMPSA)/GO QDs NC has potential as a novel adsorbent for Cr(VI).