Krzysztof Byrdy1, Karolina Czyż1, Marcin Szala1, Jacek E. Nycz1
1Division of Chemical Physics, Institute of Chemistry, University of Silesia in Katowice
Graphene oxide remains one of materials featuring very good absorption properties. Besides, numerous oxygen functional groups within its structure allow for its modifications in order to enhance the substance’s absorption capabilities. In current times, marked by highly-developed industry, contamination of waters has become a growing problem. As as a result, people start to use manifold water filters, especially in terms of drinking water, industrial wastewater and communal wastewater. The material in the form of modified graphene oxide perfectly meets these needs.
A vested interest is taken in modifications of graphene oxide performed by way of phenanthroline, which belongs to the group of organic carbon heterocyclic compounds. It features strong complex properties which are used, inter alia, to determine the iron ions in solutions.
A special example ofphenanthroline is 1,10-phenanthroline, whose unique construction is based upon phenanthrene rings, enhanced in the case of 1,10-phenanthroline by nitrogen atoms located on positions 1 and 10, which translates into a unique capability of forming complexes.
As a result of modification of graphene oxide by way of 1,10-phenanthroline, we obtain the material featuring enhanced filtration capabilities. Taking into account the surface area of graphene relative to its thickness (single-atom layer), we can obtain a filter featuring very small thicknessand mass, havingat the same time enormous surface area to absorb contaminates, which has become very interesting for us.
References:
[1] K. Pyrzyńska, Application of carbon sorbents for the concentration and separation of metal ions, Analytical sciences, 23, 2007, 631-637
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