Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Vol.47, No.7, 777-788, 2017
Improved dye entrapment-liberation performance at electrochemically synthesised polypyrrole-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite films
In this work, we have reported the application of electropolymerised polypyrrole-reduced graphene oxide (Ppy-RGO) nanocomposite films as an effective tool for entrapping and liberating the model dye Acid Red 1, and thereby proposed this as an ecofriendly treatment for dye-containing textile effluents. Initially, a polypyrrole-graphene oxide (Ppy-GO) nanocomposite film was anodically synthesised by an in situ electropolymerisation of pyrrole and GO. The Ppy-GO film was then electrochemically reduced to form a Ppy-RGO nanocomposite film. The synthesised nanocomposite films were characterised by spectroscopy, microscopy, surface analysis and thermogravimetry. Brunauer, Emmett and Teller surface area analysis showed a 7.4-fold increase in surface area of Ppy-RGO films compared to that of -polypyrrole films. In addition, based on tensile strength, Ppy-RGO films were demonstrated to be 12.7-folds mechanically stronger than -Ppy films. When Acid Red 1 was entrapped in these films, an entrapment efficiency of as high as 95% for Acid Red 1 was achieved at Ppy-RGO films, which is significantly higher than 56% achieved at Ppy films. Similarly, while liberating the entrapped Acid Red 1 from the Ppy-RGO nanocomposite films, a liberation efficiency of 73% was estimated compared to 36% from the Ppy films.
Keywords:Polypyrrole-reduced graphene oxide;Acid Red 1;Dye entrapment;Dye liberation;Textile effluents;nanocomposite films