Prominent adsorption of Cr(VI) with graphene oxide aerogel twined with creeper-like polymer based on chitosan oligosaccharide

Low-density aerogels with three-dimensional porous structure were synthesized using soluble chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) and graphene oxide (GO) as raw materials under mild conditions. Tetraethylenepentamine was used as the crosslinker of COS and the bridge between GO and COS, as well as the provider of functional groups. Structural characterizations revealed that crosslinked COS polymers firmly fixed on the surfaces of GO sheets and abundant amino groups homogeneously distributed in the pores. The adsorption capacity of the aerogel for Cr(VI) can reach up to 519.8 mg/g, while the adsorption efficiency for trace Cr(VI) adsorption can also reach 100% especially. The adsorption mechanism was investigated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and zeta potential analysis. The superb properties suggested that the strategy of using COS as a raw material for the fabrication of adsorbents with controllable structure and form is meaningful.