Synthesis of magnetic citric‐acid‐functionalized graphene oxide and its application in the removal of methylene blue from contaminated water

Abstract A magnetic nanocomposite of citric‐acid‐functionalized graphene oxide was prepared by an easy method. First, citric acid ( CA ) was covalently attached to acyl‐chloride‐functionalized graphene oxide ( GO ). Then, Fe 3 O 4 magnetic nanoparticles ( MNPs ) were chemically deposited onto the resulting adsorbent. CA , as a good stabilizer for MNPs , was covalently attached to the GO ; thus MNPs were adsorbed much more strongly to this framework and subsequent leaching decreased and less agglomeration occurred. The attachment of CA onto GO and the formation of the hybrid were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy. The specific saturation magnetization of the magnetic CA ‐grafted GO ( GO‐CA‐Fe 3 O 4 ) was 57.8 emu g −1 and the average size of the nanoparticles was found to be 25 nm by transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic nanocomposite was employed as an adsorbent of methylene blue from contaminated water. The adsorption tests demonstrated that it took only 30 min to attain equilibrium. The adsorption capacity in the concentration range studied was 112 mg g −1 . The GO‐CA‐Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposite was easily manipulated in an external magnetic field which eases the separation and leads to the removal of dyes. Thus the prepared nanocomposite has great potential in removing organic dyes. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry