Adsorption of Co(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and U(VI) from Aqueous Solutions using Polyaniline/Graphene Oxide Composites

Polyaniline modified graphene oxide (PANI/GO) composites were synthesized by dilute polymerization technique and were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The characterization results indicated that polyaniline molecules were successfully grafted on GO surfaces. The application of PANI/GO composites to the adsorption of heavy metals from aqueous solutions was investigated under ambient conditions. The maximum adsorption capacities of Co(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and U(VI) ions on PANI/GO composites calculated from Langmuir models are 22.28, 25.67, 65.40 and 1552.31 mg/g, respectively. The excellent adsorption capacity suggests that PANI/GO composites can be applied as a promising adsorbent in heavy metal pollution cleanup in environmental pollution management.