Green reduction of graphene oxide by sugarcane bagasse extract and its application for the removal of cadmium in aqueous solution

Beibei Li, Xiaoying Jin, Jiajiang Lin, Zuliang Chen

Index: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.04.018

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Abstract

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is a major waste generated in the sugar production process, and efforts are being made to use it for a wide variety of applications. This work reports the green reduction of graphene oxide (RGO) using sugarcane bagasse extract (SBE), a renewable and sustainable resource. The RGO was characterized utilizing ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscope and Energy dispersive spectrometer (FESEM-EDS), High-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS). Characterization indicates that the synthesized RGO had an average thickness of around 0.34 nm, C/O ratio of about 4.27, UV-visibility at 270.5 nm, XRD peak at 2θ = 26.5 °, and ID/IG ratio of approximately 1.16. Furthermore the RGO was tested by Cyclic Voltammograms (CVs) and demonstrated good cyclic stability and conductivity. Finally, the RGO was used to remove cadmium (Cd(II)) with the adsorption amount being nearly 24.47 mg/g. The new findings provide relevant insights into green reduction of oxide graphene by waste and using it to remediate metal ions.