title: Mussel-inspired synthesis of polydopamine-functionalized graphene hydrogel as reusable adsorbents for water purification.
abstract: We present a one-step approach to polydopamine-modified graphene hydrogel, with dopamine serving as both reductant and surface functionalization agents. The synthetic method is based on the spontaneous polymerization of dopamine and the self-assembly of graphene nanosheets into porous hydrogel structures. Benefiting from the abundant functional groups of polydopamine and the high specific surface areas of graphene hydrogel with three-dimensional interconnected pores, the prepared material exhibits high adsorption capacities toward a wide spectrum of contaminants, including heavy metals, synthetic dyes, and aromatic pollutants. Importantly, the free-standing graphene hydrogel can be easily removed from water after adsorption process, and can be regenerated by altering the pH values of the solution for adsorbed heavy metals or using low-cost alcohols for synthetic dyes and aromatic molecules.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637457.
authors.forename: Hongcai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yimin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jiajing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D007211:Indoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D059027:Recycling; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D011108:Polymers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C568283:polydopamine; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D006108:Graphite