Fabrication of a poly(m‑aminophenol)/3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane/graphene oxide ternary nanocomposite for removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution

Three composites based on Poly (meta-aminophenol) (PmAP), (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) and graphene oxide (GO) were synthesized with initial GO dispersion of 3.3, 6.6, and 9.9 mg/mL. First, in-situ polymerization of meta-aminophenol monomer on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) was carried out. Then, the hydroxyl groups of both the GO and the polymer were targeted using (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) to stop the polymer solubility, increase adsorption sites, and bind the two components. The obtained three composites were applied for efficient removal of Cu(II) from polluted water. PmAP/APTES/GO_(6.6) composite was the best one for the uptake of Cu(II) with a maximum adsorption capacity of 324.54 mg/g at 40 °C and pH 7 according to Langmuir. PmAP/APTES/GO_(6.6) hybrid composite was characterized by different techniques. The adsorption of Cu(II) on this composite was optimized under various experimental conditions. Furthermore, the isotherm data of the uptake of Cu(II) on PmAP/APTES/GO_(6.6) were found to agree with the Freundlich and Langmuir model's linear and nonlinear forms. Chemosorption was suggested by the Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm model as the calculated mean sorption energy exceeds 16 kJ/mol. The thermodynamic analysis of the adsorption process reflects an endothermic, spontaneous process that leads to more disorder at the solid-liquid interface. The chemical interactions between Cu(II) versus oxygen and nitrogen of the functional groups on the surface were demonstrated by X-ray Electron Spectroscopy (XPS). Five cycles of adsorption and desorption of Cu(II) from the prepared composite were carried out with a loss of only 6.3% of its adsorption capacity.