Ascorbic Acid-Assisted Polyol Synthesis of Iron and Fe/GO, Fe/h-BN Composites for Pb(2+) Removal from Wastewaters

Iron powders and Fe/graphene oxide and Fe/boron nitride composites were synthesized by means of a polyol synthesis method. The effect of NaOH/Fe and ascorbic acid/Fe ratios on the characteristics of synthesized products were evaluated. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and Raman-spectroscopy. Ascorbic acid-assisted polyol synthesis resulted in the 10-fold decrease of the iron particles’ size and almost 2-fold increase of lead removal efficiency. The deposition of iron on the surface of graphene oxide lead to the formation of small 20–30 nm sized particles as well as bigger 200–300 nm sized particles, while the reduction in presence of boron nitride resulted in the 100–200 nm sized particles. The difference is attributed to the surface state of graphene oxide and boron nitride. Adsorption properties of the obtained materials were studied in the process of Pb(2+) ion removal from wastewater.