Preparation of magnetic nanomaterials based on graphene oxide / chitosan, characterization and its application in the removal of pollutants in water

Abstract

The occurrence of dyes alters the physico-chemical properties of water and damages the fauna and flora of the environment. Currently, the presence of dyes in rivers and lakes highlights the inefficiency of the technologies used in the treatment of colored effluents and the need to adopt new methodologies. From this perspective, the present project refers to the improvement of the adsorption capacity of the chitosan biopolymer by the formation of composites with the graphene oxide nanomaterial containing quaternary ammonium salt units. Therefore, it is planned to perform the synthesis of magnetic nanocomposites based on graphene oxide/chitosan, the structural elucidation and the application in the AR18 dye removal from water. The nanomaterials will be synthesized from the functionalization of graphene oxide through graphitization reactions with diazonium salts and with magnetic iron nanoparticles impregnated on chitosan. Magnetic materials are an interesting strategy because they facilitate the separation between the adsorbent and the adsorbate, preventing the adsorbents from being discharged into the environment. After elucidation of the structures of the materials, the optimization of the adsorption process will be performed, where parameters such as amount of nanoadsorbent, dye concentration, contact time, pH, among others will be evaluated. In parallel, studies of adsorption kinetics with the intention of describing the mathematical model to predict the process will be carried out, as well as investigations on adsorption isotherms involving the process of removal of AR18.