Synthesis of iron oxide / graphene aerogel porous heterostructure for contaminants adsorption

• Main Author: Tan, Emily Si Qi
• Other Authors: Duan Hong Wei
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/68344
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

One of the biggest challenges of the 21st century is to provide clean and affordable water through protecting water sources and purifying polluted waters. This paper presents the synthesis of a combination of carbon-based and iron-based nanomaterials – specifically graphene iron oxides aerogel, Fe3O4-GA, which can remove oil pollutants and bacteria efficiently from contaminated water. Graphene materials exhibit large surface areas and adsorption sites that are capable of providing higher adsorption capacity to remove contaminants. The incorporation of iron oxide makes it possible to recycle the magnetic graphene-based nanomaterials by separating it from the treated water with an external magnet. This paper demonstrates the removal of two types of oil particles as well as Gram-negative bacteria species - Escherichia coli. This report will show the synthesis of the material as well as the mechanism involving the interaction of adsorbents and pollutants.