Removal of methylene blue from wastewater using ternary nanocomposite aerogel systems: Carboxymethyl cellulose grafted by polyacrylic acid and decorated with graphene oxide

In this study, environmentally-friendly nanocomposite hydrogels were fabricated. These hydrogels consisted of semi-interpenetrating networks of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) molecules grafted to polyacrylic acid (PAA), as an eco-friendly and non-toxic polymer with numerous carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups, which were reinforced with different levels of graphene oxide particles (0.5, 1.5 or 3% wt). Field-emission electron scanning microscopy (FESEM) images indicated that the pore size of the nanocomposites decreased with increasing graphic oxide concentration. The presence of the graphic oxide increased the storage modulus and thermal stability of the nanocomposite hydrogels. The hydrogels had an adsorption capacity of 138 mg/g of a model cationic dye pollutant (methylene blue) after 250 min. Moreover, a reusability test showed that the adsorption capacity remained at around 90% after 9 cycles. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations suggested that the adsorption of methylene blue was mainly a result of π-π bonds, hydrogen bonds, and electrostatic interactions with graphene oxide. Our results indicated that the nanocomposite hydrogels fabricated in this study may be eco-friendly, stable, efficient, and reusable adsorbents for ionic pollutants in wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] •Nanocomposite aerogels reinforced with graphene oxide were produced.•A porous 3D structure with SBET 42 mg/g was obtained for the aerogels.•An adsorption capacity of 138 mg/g was determined after 250 min•A high efficiency (90%) was detected after 9 cycles of adsorption-desorption.•Computer simulations showed π-π stacking was the main interaction between a model dye and graphene oxide.