Carbon nanotubes modified with 5,7-dinitro-8-quinolinol as potentially applicable tool for efficient removal of industrial wastewater pollutants

The environmental pollution due to the industrial wastewater of four different areas in the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea, Egypt, was studied. Adsorption capacities toward the concerned heavy metal ions Cu(II), Zn(II), Fe(II), and Pb(II) by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and modified-MWCNTs with 5,7-dinitro-8-quinolinol were investigated. MWCNTs as well as the modified-MWCNTs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Adsorption of the studied divalent metal ions was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The effects of solution conditions such as pH, shaking time, metal ion concentration, ionic strength and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption process were also examined. The obtained results showed that removals of the heavy metal ions under consideration by MWCNTs are obviously dependent on the experimental conditions. The maximum adsorption capacities as calculated applying Langmuir equation to single ion adsorption isotherms were found to be 142.8 mg/g for Cu(II), 250 mg/g for Zn(II), 111.1 mg/g for Fe(II), and 200 mg/g for Pb(II) using MWCNTs; meanwhile, the modified-MWCNTs exhibited higher values of the respective maximum adsorption capacities as 333.3 mg/g for Cu(II), 500 mg/g for Zn(II), 200 mg/g for Fe(II), and 333.3 mg/g for Pb(II). Kinetic studies were also performed and the experimental data followed a pseudo-second order model of the adsorption process. The obtained results suggest that the tested adsorption systems of MWCNTs and modified-MWCNTs have suitable affinity toward the metal ion under consideration. Both systems could act as potentially applicable tool in environmental protection.