Abstract

In this study, a series of graphene oxide/magnesium oxide nanocomposites (GO/MgO NCs) were synthesized and applied for the removal of Methylene Blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. The prepared NCs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that MgO particles were successfully layered on GO. The impacts of different experimental variables on the removal of MB including GO/MgO NCs dosage, pH, contact time, and initial MB concentration were investigated.

Thereafter, we investigate the mechanism and kinetics of ozonation processes in the presence of GO/MgO NCs as a catalyst for the degradation of phenol. The generation of reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and singlet oxygen (1O2) was studied during catalytic ozonation using tert-butyl alcohol and sodium azide as radical scavengers. The mechanism of phenol degradation under catalytic ozonation and reaction pathways were studied.

Finally, we study response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with a central composite design (CCD) to investigate process parameters affecting the removal of phenol in ozonation processes using GO/MgO NCs as a catalyst. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine the significant differences between the independent variables.

Degree Date

Fall 12-21-2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Advisor

Andrew N. Quicksall

Subject Area

Civil Engineering

Number of Pages

110

Format

.pdf

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

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