Modification of surfactant chemical structure for optimising graphene oxide systhesis as an efficient removal of methylene blue

Nur Amirah Jamaluddin

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Type :	thesis
Subject :	QD Chemistry
Main Author :	Nur Amirah Jamaluddin
Title :	Modification of surfactant chemical structure for optimising graphene oxide systhesis as an efficient removal of methylene blue

Place of Production :	Tanjong Malim
Publisher :	Fakulti Sains dan Matematik
Year of Publication :	2023
Corporate Name :	Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris
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Abstract : Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris

This research aimed to optimising the properties of surfactant-exfoliated graphene oxide (sEGO) as adsorbent and photocatalyst for methylene blue (MB) removal in aqueous solution. Modification of surfactants were made by increasing chain branching and exchanged in counter-ion with aromatic groups namely 1-butyl-3- methyl-imidazolium (BMIM) and anilinium. The role of these modified surfactants were compared to commercial surfactants. The mechanism in the stabilisation of sEGO, sEGO incorporated with nanofibrillated kenaf cellulose (NFC) and sEGO fabricated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) were systematically compared. Modified surfactants have been studied via proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, air – water (a/w) surface tension measurement, zeta potential measurement and dynamic light scattering. The morphology of the synthesised adsorbents and photocatalytic materials were observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The performance of adsorbents (sEGO and sEGO/NFC) and photocatalysts (sEGO/TiO2) were also monitored through ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The aggregation behaviour of modified surfactants in aqueous phase and in sEGO presence were analysed using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) analysis. Results showed that increasing surfactant chain branching and exchange with counter-ions (BMIM and anilinium) enhance the graphite surface affinity and sheet exfoliation. Thus, contribute increment of adsorption sites of sEGO for MB removal (up to 99%) in aqueous solution. SANS analysis revealed that addition of chain branching and exchanged in counter-ion influenced micelle structure formation of modified surfactant similar with lamellar layered of graphene. In conclusion, the chain branching and counter-ions exchange modification in surfactant chemical structure optimise sEGO properties as efficient MB removal in aqueous solution. As implications, modification of surfactant in sEGO as adsorbents and photocatalysts opens up new alternative approach for wastewater treatment.

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