Isotherm, thermodynamic, kinetics, and adsorption mechanism studies of Ethidium bromide by single-walled carbon nanotube and carboxylate group functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube

The studies of kinetics and thermodynamics of adsorption of Ethidium bromide in aqueous solutions on single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and carboxylate group functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT-COOH) surfaces were by UV–Vis spectroscopy. The adsorption kinetics for SWCNT-COOH and SWCNTs were well described by a intra-particle diffusion model, while Langmuir, Freundlich, Harkins–Jura, and Halsey isotherms described the adsorption isotherms, and the adsorption thermodynamic parameters of equilibrium constant (K0), standard free energy (ΔG0), standard enthalpy (ΔH0), and standard entropy changes (ΔS0) were measured. The maximum surface coverage for SWCNTs is 36.10% and for SWCNT-COOH is 38.42%. The values of ΔH0 and ΔG0 suggested that the adsorption of EtBr on SWCNT-COOH and SWCNTs was endothermic and spontaneous. The adsorption of EtBr on SWCNT-COOH is more than SWCNTs surfaces.

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► The adsorbents SWCNTs and SWCNT-COOH exhibited rapid adsorption rate and high adsorption capacity for EtBr.
► The maximum surface coverage for SWCNTs is 36.10% and for SWCNT-COOH is 38.42%.
► The adsorption for EtBr could be described by Elovich kinetic model.
► Evaluated ΔG0 and ΔH0 specify that the reaction is spontaneous and endothermic.