Fabrication of few-layered porous graphite for removing fluorosurfactant from aqueous solution.

Due to the persistence, toxicity, and widespread occurrence of fluorosurfactants in the blood of general population, it is very important to develop recyclable and highly effective adsorbent material for their removal from aqueous solution. Herein, a new type of few-layered porous graphite (FPG) was fabricated as an adsorbent, and the adsorption characteristics of FPG toward potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), potassium perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and potassium perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in environmental cleanup were evaluated under laboratory condition. The results indicated that the as-prepared FPG had sorption capacities of 1.22, 1.52, and 2.48 mmol g(-1) for PFBS, PFHxS, and PFOS, respectively, which were the highest adsorption values of PFHxS, PFBS, and PFOS on different kinds of today's carbon materials. The efficiency of FPG remained almost constant during the first five cycles of the adsorption-desorption process after heating. The outstanding adsorption performance of FPG was attributed to its unique physical properties, such as high porosity, high hydrophobicity, low density, and excellent heat stability. The findings presented herein indicated that FPG could serve as a promising adsorbent for the removal of fluorosurfactant in waste water.