Synthesis and Application of Highly Active Dithiooxamide Functionalised Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Toward Mercury Removal from Aqueous Solution
Abstract
Highly sensitive and accurate method has been applied for removal of toxic mercury(II) ionsin aqueous solution, using synthesised nanosorbent. Determination of mercury(II) was carried out by flameatomic absorption spectrometer. A nanosorbent multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) was synthesisedby the reaction of dithiooxamide with functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Initially, the surfaceof the multi-walled carbon nanotubes was oxidised by a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids and then wasfunctionalised using thionyl chloride. The ligand has been attached to the multi-walled carbon nanotubesin somewhat shorter time and lower temperature than previous reported methods. The sorbent wascharacterised by Fourier transmission infrared and scanning electron microscopy. In this research study,the effect of different parameters in removal of mercury(II) ions by nanosorbent, such as pH, amount ofnanosorbent, time and concentration of Hg(II), was investigated. Experiments show that the new MWCNTwith loading amount of 1.02 mmol/g is a powerful sorbent for removing the Hg(II) ions from water.