Sorption and Desorption Analysis of Nitrobenzene on Differently Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Implications on the Stability

The stability of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) suspension is a key factor in determining their transport, fate, and toxicity in an aquatic environment, which is significantly influenced by CNTs' nature and water chemistry. Macromolecular dissolved organic matter (DOM) is reported to influence the stability of CNTs aggregation. However, little is known on small polar dissolved organic compound's effects on CNTs aggregation. Nitrobenzene was selected to investigate its interaction with three different functionalized multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs). Both the stability of CNTs aggregation and sorption hysteresis were affected by the initial concentration of nitrobenzene and the surface functionalization coverage of MWCNTs. At the initial concentration below 580 mg/L, the thermodynamic index of irreversibility (TII) and turbidity of CNTs suspension had the same tendency, indicating that the underlying mechanism is closely related. A conceptual adsorption-desorption model was proposed to further explain the relationship between the sorption hysteresis and stability of MWCNTs suspension under different initial concentrations of nitrobenzene. This provided data support to further clarify the environmental behaviors and risks of CNTs.