Graphene-based composite with γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticle for the high-performance removal of endocrine-disrupting compounds from water

Abstract

Graphene is a 2D sp(2)-hybridized carbon sheet and an ideal material for the adsorption-based separation of organic pollutants. However, such potential applications of graphene are largely limited, owing to their poor solubility and extensive aggregation properties through graphene-graphene interactions. Herein, we report the synthesis of graphene-based composites with γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticle for the high-performance removal of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDC) from water. The γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles partially inhibit these graphene-graphene interactions and offer water dispersibility of the composite without compromising much of the high surface area of graphene. In their dispersed form, the graphene component offers the efficient adsorption of EDC, whilst the magnetic iron-oxide component offers easier magnetic separation of adsorbed EDC.