Quinoline-infused graphene carbon cages: an ecofriendly approach towards environmental remediation

The increasing concern over the contamination of water bodies by textile dyes calls for the development of effective and sustainable strategies for their removal. In response, this study aims to provide a comprehensive investigation on the utilization of quinoline-based graphene carbon cages as catalysts for the adsorption and absorption of malachite green, a commonly used dye in the textile industry. The synthesis of graphene carbon cages was accomplished through a facile and efficient method viz., the sonochemical method, yielding uniform structures with a hollow interior and a single-layer surface composed of thin pentagonal rings. Characterization techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, EDX analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), were employed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of the graphene carbon cages. The adsorption capacity of the synthesized graphene carbon cages for malachite green was found to be remarkably high, with nearly complete removal achieved within 40 min using a mere 5 mg of catalyst. This exceptional performance can be attributed to the unique combination of the graphene carbon cages' high surface area, abundant active sites, and 3D structure. Furthermore, the stability of the graphene carbon cages was assessed through five consecutive cycles of adsorption and absorption, demonstrating their reusability without significant loss of efficiency. The findings of this study highlight the potential of quinoline-based graphene carbon cages as highly efficient and reusable catalysts for the removal of malachite green from wastewater. These catalysts offer promising prospects for industrial applications in the textile sector, contributing to the mitigation of water pollution and the promotion of sustainable practices. [GRAPHICS] .