Influence of pH and surface oxygen-containing groups on multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the transformation and adsorption of 1-naphthol

► Oxidization transformation and adsorption of 1-naphthol onto CNTs are pH-dependent. ► Neglecting oxidization loss causes overestimation of 1-naphthol adsorption on CNTs. ► Oxygen-containing groups of CNTs can promote adsorption of 1-naphthol. ► CNTs can interact with 1-naphthol by polymerization of oxygen-containing groups.