Heavy Metal Removal from Wastewater by a Polypyrrolederived N-doped Carbon Nanotube Decorated with Fish Scale-like Molybdenum Disulfide Nanosheets

Abstract

Lead (Pb), duo to its toxicity, non-biodegradability and carcinogenicity, has huge harm to the environment and living beings. Therefore, developing an environmentally friendly material to remove lead from wastewater is of extraordinary significance for the health of human and other creatures. Here, we synthesized a novel N-doped carbon nanotube (derived from polypyrrole precursor) decorated with fish scale-like molybdenum disulfide nanosheet (C-Ppy@MoS2) by high temperature hydrothermal reaction and further explored the practical application for removal of Pb(II) from wastewater. Owing to the fish scale-like structure, the C-Ppy@MoS2 showed a maximum Pb(II) removal capacity of 381.87 mg/g, which is 50 times higher than that of the C-Ppy nanotube without MoS2 decoration. By one-time filtration removal experiment, it is found that the Pb(II) in the solution after filtration can be almost removed completely, which suggests that the C-Ppy@MoS2 is an extremely promising adsorbate for the efficient removal of Pb(II) from wastewater.