Preparation of graphene oxide/polyiminodiacetic acid resin as a high-performance adsorbent for Cu(II)

Heavy metal-contaminated water has become a great challenge for aquatic ecosystems. Herein, a versatile composite (IRC 748-GO) adsorbent was prepared by modifying graphene oxide (GO) with Amberlite IRC 748 resin. The batch and dynamic adsorption experiments of Cu 2+ on the IRC 748-GO composite were conducted, and the results showed that the novel adsorbents have a high adsorption capacity compared to the pristine GO. The adsorption process was consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the equilibrium data were well fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model, and the maximum uptake of Cu 2+ was 127.22 mg/g. The adsorption mechanism was investigated using FT-IR, SEM, XPS, and adsorption isotherms, which revealed that the carboxyl groups in IRC 748-GO composite could effectively chelate Cu 2+ . Overall, the IRC 748-GO composite exhibited important advantages such as great specific surface area and stability, as well as high adsorption capacity, which provides broad application prospects for efficiently remediating wastewater containing heavy metals.