Preparation of C-MOx nanocomposite for efficient absorption of heavy metal ions via mechanochemical reaction of CaC2 and transitional metal oxides

Abstract Three nanocomposites of carbon and MnOx (C-Mns) were prepared via mechanochemical reaction of CaC2 with excessive MnO2 in a planetary ball mill. Their structure and composition were analyzed by XPS, Raman, FT-IR, XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, SEM and TEM, respectively, and their adsorption performance for heavy metal ions was studied. In addition, a series of nanocomposites of carbon and transition metal oxides (C-MOx) were prepared by ball milling CaC2 with excessive TiO2, V2O5, Fe2O3, CuO, MoO3, Co2O3, and CrO3, respectively, and their adsorptivity was evaluated. C-Mn1 is a micro-mesoporous sorbent with rich MnOx, alkynyl and oxygenated groups, and moderate specific area (∼180 m2 g-1), showing excellent Pb2+ adsorption with its saturated adsorptivity being 404.4 mg-Pb∙g-1. Further, it is also effective for other heavy metals (Hg2+, Cd2+, Cr3+, Zn2+ and Cu2+). Some C-MOx show even better adsorptivity for Pb2+ and Hg2+, being superior to most of the advanced carbon-based sorbents. We reported herein a facile method for preparing a new kind of C-MOx nanocomposites for the efficient adsorption of heavy metal ions from wastewater.