Open AccessRemoval of Cu2+ Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Carbon Nanotubes
Author(s) -
Yanhui Li,
Zhaokun Luan,
Xiao Xu,
Xia Zhou,
Chao Xu,
Dehai Wu,
Bingqing Wei
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
adsorption science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.682
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2048-4038
pISSN - 0263-6174
DOI - 10.1260/026361703769645807
Subject(s) - adsorption , aqueous solution , chemistry , carbon nanotube , ion , nitric acid , inorganic chemistry , carbon fibers , nuclear chemistry , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , materials science , composite number , composite material
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a new crystalline form in the carbon family, have been shown to be an effective adsorbent for Cu 2+ ion removal from aqueous solution. After oxidation with nitric acid, the adsorption capacity of the oxidized CNTs towards Cu 2+ ions at a pH of 5.2 reached 27.6 mg/g, compared to a value of only 14.4 mg/g for the as-grown CNTs under the same circumstances. Increasing the pH to 5.4 led to 95% removal of Cu 2+ ions with the oxidized CNTs, whereas with the as-grown CNTs it was necessary to increase the pH to 8.6 to achieve the same extent of removal. The Cu 2+ ion adsorption capacity increased with increasing CNT dosage for the different initial Cu 2+ ion concentrations. The kinetic curve for adsorption of the Cu 2+ ions suggested that not only the outer surfaces but also inner cavities and inter-layers in the structures of the CNTs were responsible for the removal of the ion from aqueous solutions.