Graphene in the Fe3O4 nano-composite switching the negative influence of humic acid coating into an enhancing effect in the removal of arsenic from water

Abstract

The humic acid coating was influenced by graphene in the Fe₃O₄ nano-composite, which turned out to be an enhancing effect in the removal of arsenic from water. Earlier studies have shown the negative role of humic acid (ubiquitous in all natural water systems) in the removal of arsenic from natural water resources. Herein we present for the first time the positive influence of humic acid (HA) on graphene–Fe₃O₄ nano-composites for the removal of arsenic present in water. The Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were assembled on graphene oxide (GO) sheets through the co-precipitation process and concurrently the humic acid coating was brought out. After coating with humic acid, the composite has shown almost double the removal efficiency of As(III) and As(V) at neutral pH.