Surface modified graphite nanosheets used as adsorbent to remove 1,2-dichlorobenzene from water

The surface of graphite nanosheets (GNs) prepared by wet ball milling from expanded graphite (EG) was surface modified during the preparation process. The SEM images shown were employed to analyze the morphology of surface modified graphite nanosheets. The XPS date and Raman spectroscopy show that the milling process gives graphene surface more defects and phenolic groups compared to that of expanded graphite and graphite nanosheets. It was found that after ball milling, the surface modified GNs can be used as an effective adsorbent to remove 1,2-dichlorobenzene from water. Their adsorption capacity reaches 28.3 mg/g, which is comparable to that of carbon nanotubes (CNTs).