Synthesis and characterization of graphite/magnetite composite as low cost potential adsorbent from graphite waste

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
² Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE1410, Negara Brunei Darussalam

^* Coresponding author: Tel. 62-21-7863516 Ext. 204; Fax: 62-21-7863515; E-mail: ekusrini@che.ui.ac.id

Abstract

The comparative properties of pre-treated graphite waste and composite with magnetite nanoparticles were studied. The present work describes the thermal-mechanical method for pre-treated graphite electrode waste and chemical modification on the pre-treated graphite waste with magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄). The raw material is graphite electrode waste. The variables of temperature and time that affected the properties of pre-treated graphite waste was also observed. Pre-treated of graphite electrode waste was prepared via thermal process at temperatures of 60, 75, 90°C and various times of 30, 60 and 90 minutes, followed by mechanical crushing of the resultant graphite waste to 75 μm particle size. The synthetic material (graphite waste/Fe₃O₄ composite) was prepared with hydrochloric acid (0.1 M) for activation of the pre-treated graphite waste, followed by chemical modification with pre-treated graphite waste to Fe₃O₄ mass ratio 1: 1 (w/w). The experimental results showed that the pre-treated graphite waste are non-porous. Effect of magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) revealed that the surface area of graphite waste/Fe₃O₄ composite increased from 8.44 m²/g to 64.58 m²/g. The EDX composition of Fe increased from 0.08 to 38.68 wt%, indicated that the modification of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles onto graphite waste was carried out successfully. This data is useful for the preliminary treatment process of graphite electrode waste for further applications that require adsorbent preparation and modification.