Surface-associated metal catalyst enhances the sorption of perfluorooctanoic acid to multi-walled carbon nanotubes

The perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) sorption behavior of two commercial multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (C 150 P from Bayer MaterialScience: BA and C-MWNTs from NanoTechLabs Inc.: CP) was investigated from aqueous solution. The BA nanotubes contained Co/Mn/Mg/Al catalysts both on their outer surface and in the inner bore while CP contained Fe-based catalyst typically within the tubes. The adsorption isotherms of 14C-radiolabeled PFOA were measured by batch experiments and fitted to the Freundlich model (r2 > 0.92). The adsorption affinity and capacity on BA were significantly higher than on CP. Increasing the pH reduced the adsorption of PFOA due to the electrostatic interaction between the pH-sensitive surface and the adsorbate. Increasing the NaCl concentration led to the aggregation of the MWCNTs reducing the available surface and thus the adsorption capacity. Removal of the catalyst from the outer surface of BA changed the electrophoretic mobility from a positive to a negative value and also decreased the adsorbed amount of PFOA. The surface charge of the surface-associated metal catalyst favors the electrostatic sorption of PFOA. Such surface modifications may be a promising way to improve the sorption capacity of MWCNTs for pollutants such as PFOA and to broaden their potential application in water purification.

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► Sorption of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT).
► Enhanced sorption of PFOA to surface-associated metal catalyst of MWCNT.
► Sorption isotherms of PFOA on MWCNTs were well simulated by Freundlich model.
► Sorption capacity of low PFOA concentration depends on pH and ionic strength.
► Electrostatic sorption of PFOA at surface-associated metal catalyst material.