title: Coupled removal of organic compounds and heavy metals by titanate/carbon nanotube composites.
abstract: The objective of this study was to fabricate 1-dimensional (1-D) nanocomposite materials with high aspect ratios and specific surface areas for the coupled degradation of refractory organic compounds and heavy metals. The 1-D nanomaterials were composed of various ratios of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and titanate nanotubes (TNT) (CNT/TNT). Alkaline hydrothermal method was used to fabricate TNT under various hydrothermal conditions. The morphology changed from nanoparticles/nanosheets, nanotubes, nanowires and then to nanoribbon as the hydrothermal temperatures increased from 60 to 230 degrees C. In addition, the CNT/TNT nanomaterials have a good capability toward heavy metal adsorption. The Langmuirian maximum adsorption capacities of nanomaterials were in the range 83-124 mg/g for Cu2+ and 192-588 mg/g for Pb2+, which is superior to that of CNT. The removal efficiency of Cu2+ by CNT/TNT decreased when 40 mg/L MX5B was due to the complexation of MX5B with Cu2+. Results obtained in this study clearly show the 1-D CNT/TNT nanomaterials are a promising nano-adsorbent for coupled removal of organic as well as heavy metal ions in solution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan. radoong@mx.nthu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Ruey-An
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Doong
authors.forename: Li-Fen
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Chiang
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016062:Porosity; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014025:Titanium