Dendrimer Functionalized Graphene Oxide for Selenium Removal

• Author / Creator

  Xiao, Wenda

• Selenium is an essential trace element nutrient for human life, but it can be extremely toxic if taken excess. Various adsorbents have been applied for the removal of selenium from water but performed poorly in the removal of Se (VI), which is more bioavailable and more difficult to remove. Herein, we reported a new method to prepare poly (amido amine) functionalized graphene oxide (PAMAM-GO) with different generations (GO-G0 to GO-G4). The resulting products were applied in selenium removal from simulated water, showing an increasing capacity with increasing generation. The 4th generation of PAMAM-GO (GO-G4) shows a removal capacity of 60.9 mg g-1 in Se (IV) and 77.9 mg g-1 in Se (VI) at pH 6. The adsorption mechanism is attributed to the electrostatic interaction between selenium oxyanions and the adsorbents, proved by the effects of initial pH on removal capacity and zeta potential measurements.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Selenium
  • Graphene oxide

• Graduation date

  Fall 2015

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R30C4ST0F

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.