Mussel-Inspired Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite for Methyl Orange Removal: Adsorption and Regeneration Behaviors

Abstract

A mussel-inspired multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposite (MWCNTs@CCh-PEI) was prepared by the co-deposition of catechol (CCh)/polyethyleneimine (PEI) and modification of MWCNTs for the efficient removal of methyl orange (MO). The effects of MO solution pH, contact time, initial MO concentration, and temperature on the adsorption capacity of MWCNTs@CCh-PEI were investigated. The results indicate that the adsorption capacity of MWCNTs@CCh-PEI was two times higher than that of pristine MWCNTs under the same conditions. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model, suggesting that the adsorption process was chemisorption. The adsorption isotherm shows that the experimental data were fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9873, indicating that the adsorption process was monolayer adsorption. The theoretical maximum adsorption capacity was determined to be 400.00 mg·g−1. The adsorption thermodynamic data show that the adsorption process was exothermic and spontaneous. More importantly, the adsorption capacity of MWCNTs@CCh-PEI showed no significant decrease after eight reuse cycles. These results demonstrate that MWCNTs@CCh-PEI is expected to be an economical and efficient adsorbent for MO removal.