Recyclable aqueous metal adsorbent: Synthesis and Cu(II) sorption characteristics of ternary nanocomposites of Fe3O4 nanoparticles@graphene–poly-N-phenylglycine nanofibers

Metal pollutant adsorbents are an essential material platform for sustainable environmental remediation, but the typically disposable after sorption, which secondarily contaminates environment. We report on recyclable Cu(II) adsorbent of deprotonated poly-N-phenylglycine nanofibers (d-PPG NFs)-grafted reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets intercalated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs), synthesized via wet chemical process. The adsorption performances ternary [email protected]–d-PPG NFs and binary protected] composites compared, ones exhibit much higher Cu2+-adsorption capacity than under diverse pH conditions due to both high specific surface area cationic affinity d-PPG that follow Freundlich model. Density-functional theory calculation results explain why/how show greater Cu2+ capability in present stable, capability, irrespective Co2+ concentration bimetallic Cu Co aqueous solution. NPs allow magnet-assisted collection batches, whose yield is ?95 % without degradation repeated reuses over 10 times. This study provides a general, promising pathway synthesize reusable sorptive materials water purification/remediation.