Catalytic Growth of Carbon Nanowires on Thin SS-410 Sheet by CVD Method and Its Adsorption Behavior Toward Copper Ions

In this work, carbon nanowires (CNWs) were synthesized on thin stainless steel (SS-410) sheet by a chemical vapor deposition method at the growth temperature of 900 °C using acetylene gas as a precursor of carbon. Scanning electron microscopic images revealed the fibrous morphology of synthesized carbon material. At the same time, EDX analysis suggested the fibrous carbon material was predominantly grown on Fe/Cr metal catalyst particles presumably formed on the surface of a thin SS-410 sheet at high temperatures. The diameter distribution of the carbon nanowires is in the range of 40–60 nm. The carbon contents of the as-prepared material were about 50 wt % which increased to 90 wt % after nitric acid treatment due to the removal of excess metallic impurities. After purification with concentrated nitric acid, CNWs exhibited better adsorption behavior toward copper ions than that of as-prepared CNWs under similar conditions. Effect of pH, contact time, adsorbate, and adsorbent dose were studied. Langmuir isotherm model appears to be a better fit compared to the Freundlich isotherm model, thus suggesting the physisorption adsorption process between CNWs adsorbent and copper adsorbate in an aqueous solution.