Hybrid polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl chloride nanocomposites reinforced with graphene-carbon nanotube for acid red environmental treatments

ABSTRACT

Hybrid polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl chloride/graphene and carbon nanotube nanocomposites PVA–PVC/Gr–CNTs_a-e were successfully synthesized by a solution-casting method. Mixed Gr–CNTs ratio (50%:50%) was prepared in 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt% and added to the host polymers (PVA/PVC). The characterization tools for the fabricated nanocomposites show homogenous interaction between the fillers and PVA/PVC polymer matrix. A significant improvement in the thermal properties of the (PVA/PVC) matrix was observed by adding mixed fillers, even at low loadings of mixed Gr–CNTs on to the matrix. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images of the prepared composites show a good dispersion of PVA–PVC and mixed Gr–CNTs and present core-shell morphology. Impressive improvement in the percentage of acid red removal using PVA–PVC/Gr–CNTs_a–e was achieved and improved with time, solution temperature, and composites mass. The process of removing acid red was described kinetically and thermodynamically. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model is the most appropriate kinetic model to describe the adsorption of acid red by PVA–PVC and PVA–PVC/Gr–CNTs_d nanocomposites from an aqueous solution. Our results offer a facile method for the removal of acid red from three types of water: red sea, tap water, and distilled water.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Polyvinyl alcohol
• polyvinyl chloride
• grtttttagdelaphene
• carbon nanotube
• acid red dye removal
• environmental safety

Acknowledgment

The authors, therefore, gratefully acknowledge DSR for technical and financial support.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah [grant number DF-861-130-1441]. The authors, therefore, gratefully acknowledge DSR for technical and financial support.

Notes on contributors

Mahmoud A. Hussein

Mahmoud A. Hussein is a professor of polymer chemistry at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He obtained his PhD in Organic Polymer Synthesis from Assiut University, Egypt. He got a post doctoral position in the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, France and University Sains Malaysia, Malaysia. He visited school of Industrial technology, University Sains Malaysia and Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (UP) as visiting researcher. His research interests in the area of polymer chemistry polymer composites materials

Zahra M. Al-Amshany

Zahra M. Al-amshany is an assistant professor at KAU. She obtained her PhD from KAU. She is working in the heterocyclic chemistry and its related compounds.

Nada Y. Tashkandi

Nada Y. Tashkandi is assistant professor at KAU. She obtained her PhD from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. Her doctoral work focused on investigation of cycloaddition reactions of ditetrelenes, including mechanistic investigations using cyclopropyl-based alkyne probes.