CARBON-BASED NANOMATERIALS FOR EFFICIENT REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS FROM CONTAMINATED WATER

Abstract

The contamination of water resources by heavy metals poses significant environmental and public health risks due to their toxicity and persistence. Conventional removal methods often suffer from high costs, inefficiency, and secondary pollution, necessitating the development of advanced alternatives. This study investigates the efficacy of carbon-based nanomaterials graphene oxide (GO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and activated carbon (AC) for the efficient removal of heavy metals (Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, As³⁺) from contaminated water. The nanomaterials were synthesized and functionalized to enhance their adsorption capabilities, and their structural and morphological properties were characterized using SEM, FTIR, and XRD. Batch adsorption experiments evaluated the impact of pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and initial metal concentration on removal efficiency. The adsorption data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models, with the Langmuir model demonstrating the best fit, indicating monolayer chemisorption. Results revealed that GO exhibited the highest adsorption capacity due to its extensive surface area and oxygen-containing functional groups, followed by CNTs and AC. The study highlights the potential of carbon-based nanomaterials as sustainable and scalable solutions for water purification, while also addressing environmental concerns such as nanomaterial toxicity and recyclability. This research bridges the gap between laboratory-scale performance and practical application, offering insights into optimizing nanomaterials for heavy metal removal in real-world scenarios.