PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND TESTING OF GRAPHITE NANOCOMPOSITES IN WATER TREATMENT

Abstract

The application of nanomaterials and composites in the field of treating water pollution with dyes has begun to take an important place in scientific research with the great development of the industrial sector. Therefore, this study aimed to prepare two composites of graphite and nano titanium dioxide (G2T1,G2T2) using different chemical methods. The active groups, graphite oxidation, and the ratio of the elements composing the composites were diagnosed using several techniques (Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction and Energy disperse X-ray spectroscopy). The composites (G2T1, G2T2) were applied in the field of adsorption of Congo red dye (CR) from aqueous solutions using a continuous method, where the amount of CR dye adsorbed by the composites (G2T1, G2T2) were (107, 68) mg/g respectively. The adsorption process data were subjected to kinetic models, and it was found that the adsorption process data for Congo red dye follow the kinetic model of the pseudo second order, which indicates that the type of adsorption for both composites is chemical. This demonstrates the success of the preparation process of the composites and their use in the process of treating water pollution from dyes represented by Congo red dye.