Effect of Magnetic Field and Electrospray Combination on the Orientation of Carbon Nanotubes in Alginate Core-Shell Composite Adsorbent and Methylene Blue Adsorption

Abstract

In the present study, the effect of magnetic field and electrospray on the orientation of carbon nanotubes (CNT), stabilized with COOH, in the obtained alginate/CNT adsorbent’s matrix, as well as the adsorption of methylene blue, were investigated. FE-SEM and UV-visible spectroscopy were used to determine the characteristics and performance of absorbents. The images showed that the CNTs were significantly oriented in the polymer matrix by placing alginate-CNTs colloid in a magnetic field with an average strength of 318 mT for 2 h. While the spraying of colloidal droplets under the electric field had a negligible effect on the alignment of CNTs, it led to the size reduction of the droplets and an increase in the specific surface area of particles. By combining magnetic and electric fields in the presence of CNT, 92.2% of the methylene blue adsorption was obtained, which was higher than electrospray only (71%), and electrospray only without CNTs (59%). This research revealed that the orientation of carbon nanotubes under magnetic and electric fields was effective in increasing the adsorption efficiency of environmental pollutants and can lead to the production of more economical adsorbents.