Fabricating magnetic GO/ZIF-8 nanocomposite for amphetamine adsorption from water: Capability and mechanism

The capture and separation properties of the three-dimensional Fe3O4/GO/ZIF-8 towards amphetamine were investigated. The combination of Fe3O4/GO and ZIF-8 has been designed through a facile self-assembly process, to exhibit the advantages of both and play the synergistic effect. Such nanocomposite was assessed as amphetamine adsorbent via batch experiments to determine the adsorption capacity, reusability and stability. Experimental characterizations consisting of adsorption isotherms, kinetics, thermodynamics, pH effect and ionic effect, in combination with theoretical calculations demonstrated the critical contribution of the hydrogen bonding interaction (O…H−N), π-π interaction and Zn−N chelation interaction during amphetamine adsorption process. Under the condition of introducing the Fe3O4, GO and ZIF-8 effectively realized the mutual promotion effect, among which GO increased the specific surface area and good dispersibility of Fe3O4/ZIF-8, and ZIF-8 obviously enhanced the stability of Fe3O4/GO. This work provided more options for the synthesis of high efficiency and functional adsorbents for psychoactive substances.