Magnetic graphene foam for efficient adsorption of oil and organic solvents

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science Vol. 430; no. 430; pp. 337 - 344
• Main Authors: Yang, Sudong, Chen, Lin, Mu, Lei, Ma, Peng-Cheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 15-09-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adsorption; Arrays; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Emulsions. Microemulsions. Foams; Exact sciences and technology; Foams; General and physical chemistry; Graphene; Graphene foam; Magnetic nanoparticles; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; Oil–water separation; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Reduction; Solvents; Sorbent; Surface physical chemistry; Oil–water separation; Sorbent; Graphene foam; Magnetic nanoparticles; Water; Separation; Nanoparticle; Oil-water separation; Organic solvent; Oil; Adsorption; Foam; Graphene; Adsorbent
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2014.05.062

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•Magnetic graphene foam was prepared by a solvothermal method.•Different morphologies of Fe3O4 nanoparticles were observed on graphene foam.•The magnetic graphene foam showed good oil adsorption capacity and reusability.
This paper reported the preparation of magnetic graphene foam loaded with magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles and its application for the adsorption of oil and organic solvents. The foam with porous and hierarchical structures was derived from graphene oxide film reduced by gaseous reduction in a hydrothermal system. Drastically different morphologies of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with nanosheet arrays or cubic structures were observed on graphene foam by controlling the reduction degree of graphene oxide under mild conditions. Benefiting from the integration of porous structures and magnetic properties, the graphene foam manifests outstanding oil adsorption capacity, high restoration for absorbates as well as excellent recyclability and stability under cyclic operations. The simple and effective strategy for the preparation of graphene foams developed in this study may offer a new alternative for scale-up production of graphene materials used for the cleanup of oil spills.