FUNCTIONALIZED GRAPHENE-BASED MATERIALS AS INNOVATIVE ADSORBENTS OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS: A CONCISE OVERVIEW

ABSTRACT The functionalization of graphene nanosheets is the cutting edge of materials sciences nowadays. Such research promotes the development of innovative, low cost and highly capable sorbents. This review article aims to assemble the available information on functionalized graphene used for the adsorption of organic pollutants and establishes a critical comparison between the data reported in the literature. Various optimal experimental conditions (pH, temperature, contact time, adsorbent dosage) and adsorbent characterization methods (FTIR, Raman, XPS spectra, XRD, TEM and AFM) have been listed to enlighten adsorption mechanisms, capacity and limiting aspects. Moreover, adsorption isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamic data of different functionalized graphene-based materials towards a wide range of organic pollutants were analyzed and tabulated. In each evaluation topic, environmental and human health protection is subject for discussion, as well as the scientific breakthrough works available in high impact journals in the field.