Effect of the oxygen-containing functional group of graphene oxide on the aqueous cadmium ions removal

The adsorption process of graphene oxide (GO) with oxygen-containing functional groups towards cadmium ions was investigated. GO synthesized from graphite by using the modified Hummers method was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The oxygen-containing groups on the surfaces of GO played an important role in Cd(II) ion adsorption onto GO. The results of batch experiments indicated that maximal adsorption, which was found to be 23.9 mg/g, could be achieved over the broad pH range of 6.0-7.0. Adsorption isotherms were better fitted by Freundlich model than by Langmuir model and kinetic studies suggested that adsorption was controlled by chemical adsorption. According to FT-IR and XPS analyses of before and after Cd(II) adsorption on GO, electrostatic attraction and cation exchange between Cd(II) and O-containing functional groups on GO were the dominant mechanisms responsible for Cd(II) sorption.