Advances of graphene oxide based nanocomposite materials in the treatment of wastewater containing heavy metal ions and dyes

Abstract

The introduction of inorganic and organic contaminants into aquatic systems by waste streams released from urban, industrial, agricultural, and other sources has become a global problem. Heavy metal ions and synthetic dyes are the most common contaminants in natural aquatic systems, causing a variety of life-threatening problems in humans and other living things. Graphene oxide-based nanocomposite materials have been widely used in the treatment of water/wastewater containing heavy metal ions and dye pollutants because of their high surface areas, excellent mechanical strength, and adaptability to different functional groups. Adsorption-based removal of heavy metal ions and synthetic dyes from aqueous media, as well as photo-degradation of dyes using efficient adsorbents or photo-catalysts like graphene-based nanocomposite materials, has a lot of benefits, including cost-effectiveness, applicability in large-scale operations, efficiency, and reutilization. The majority of graphene or reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite materials can remove or degrade over 90% of heavy metal ions and dye pollutants from wastewater. According to a literature review, some of these materials decontaminated wastewater to the extent of 99 or 100%. The potential of graphene oxide based nanomaterials in the treatment of water/wastewater, significant features of graphene based nanomaterials, adsorption and photo-catalytic processes, future aspects, and some relevant current investigations are all discussed in this review.

Keywords

• Heavy metal ions
• Dyes
• Graphene oxide based nanocomposite materials
• Adsorption
• Photo-catalytic activity