Microwave-assisted reduced graphene oxide from vacuum gas oil derived graphitic carbon: An innovative solution for wastewater treatment and oil spill control
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Graphitic carbon derived from vacuum gas oil (VGO) was chemically oxidized to produce graphene oxide (GO), which was then reduced through sudden thermal treatment and microwave-assisted reduction to obtain reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and rGO-M, respectively. Leveraging VGO’s rich carbon content, this eco-friendly synthesis produced graphene-based materials with enhanced adoption capacity, thermal stability, and structural integrity. The rGO-M synthesis was optimized using Box-Behnken Design (BBD), adjusting microwave power (200 W), reduction time (30 s), and H₂O₂ concentration (5 mL), achieving up to 95 % removal efficiency. Structural, surface, and adsorption characteristics were evaluated for both rGO and rGO-M, particularly in wastewater treatment and oil spill cleanup. rGO-M showed superior adsorption capacity, removing 80 % of total hardness (initial: 170 mg/L) and 60 % of total organic carbon (TOC; initial: 22.74 mg/L) at 1.0 g/L dosage. At 1.5 g/L, it achieved 85 % and 61 % reductions in total hardness and TOC, respectively. For oil removal, rGO-M adsorbed 190 mg/g in 30 min, improving from 40 % efficiency at one minute to 95 % at thirty. While rGO had slightly higher efficiency, rGO-M stands out for its energy-efficient, simple preparation process and excellent performance.
Source: Desalination and Water Treatment
Authors: Ravi Dalsania, Hasmukh Gajera, Mahesh Savant
Institutions: Atmiya University, Reliance Industries (India)
Language: English
Subfield: Water Science and Technology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,000
OpenAlex ID: W4411990550