Graphene Oxide/Fe-Based Composite Pre-Polymerized Coagulants: Synthesis, Characterization, and Potential Application in Water Treatment

This study presents for the first time the synthesis and characterization of GO (graphene oxide), PFSiC (polyferric silicate chloride), and hybrid GO-PFSiC derivatives, aiming to enhance synergistically the performance of coagulation, when applied for the treatment of water. The structure and the morphology of composite GO-PFSiC coagulants were studied in detail by the application of FTIR, XRD, and SEM characterization techniques. Furthermore, the proposed coagulants were applied for the treatment of simulated turbid surface water. The effects of the reagent’s dosage, pH value, and experimental/operational conditions on the coagulation efficiency, applied mainly for the removal of turbidity, were examined. The results, obtained from the FTIR and XRD measurements, showed the presence of a bond between the PFSiC and the GO surface, indicating that the PFSiC particles are distributed uniformly on the surface of graphene, which was also confirmed by the SEM images. Especially, the composite compound GO-PFSiC1.5-15-0.5 presents the most uniform distribution of iron on the surface of graphene oxide and exhibits the optimum coagulation efficiency, while it significantly reduces the turbidity for doses above 3–5 mg/L, i.e., achieving the respective legislation limit as proposed by WHO. Specifically, at the alkaline pH values (>7.9), the removal of turbidity reaches 96%. Consequently, the results of this study render these materials as potential coagulant agents for further research and applications, aiming to also achieve the co-removal of other water components.