Highly efficient removal of Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions using r-GO/PPY/SiO2 based nanosorbent.

In the treatment of wastewater incorporating inorganic and organic contaminants, graphene oxide and polymer-based nanocomposites have gained a lot of interest. In the current study, reduced graphene oxide (r-GO), polypyrrole (PPY) and silica (SiO2) based nanocomposite material (r-GO/PPY/SiO2) was utilised as an effective adsorbent for the removal of Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions from contaminated water. The r-GO/PPY/SiO2 was synthesised using an efficient and low-cost approach, and it was then analysed using various techniques. Under the employed adsorption conditions, this material was demonstrated to be a very efficient adsorbent for the decontamination of Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions in wastewater. The highest adsorption capacities of r-GO/PPY/SiO2 for Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions were evaluated to be 19.305 and 23.148 mg/g. The pseudo-second order rate constants have been determined as 90.9 and 66.225 mg/g/min for Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]