Chemical Modification of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes and their Application for Solid Phase Extraction of Different Pollutants from Aqueous Samples.

Mohamed Abdel Salam^1* and Robert Burk²

^1*Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

² Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute, Department of Chemistry,

Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada

^* Corresponding author Email: masalam16@hotmail.com

Presentation preferences: Oral Presentation.

Biographical notes:

Dr. Mohamed Abdel Salam received two PhD in Physical Chemistry. The first PhD was from Ain Shames University, Cairo Egypt, in 2001 with specialization in Electrochemistry. The second PhD was from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, in 2006, with specialization in nanochemistry. Currently, he is Assistant Professor of Physical chemistry at Faculty of Science, KAU, Jeddah, KSA. His current research interest is in chemical modification, characterization of different nano materials. He is a member of the Canadian Advisory Committee on the International Standardization Organization for Nanotechnologies (CAC/ISO/TC229 – Nanotechnologies), the Chemical Institute of Canada, the Canadian Society for Chemistry and the Canadian Society for Chemical technology.

Dr. Robert (Bob) Burk is an associate professor of chemistry at Carleton University and is currently Chair of the Chemistry Department. His research interests are in separation science as applied to analytical chemistry. Current research projects include the use of stir-bar sorption extraction for the analysis of low levels of organics in water, the derivatization of carbon nanotubes for use as solid phase adsorbents, and the use of supercritical fluids in analytical chemistry. Bob spends considerable time developing new materials and techniques for teaching chemistry at the undergraduate level. He makes use of many electronic aids both in the classroom and for communicating with students outside of the classroom, notably extensive web-based resources, recording and Podcasting of all lectures and tutorials, as well as instant messaging systems. Bob’s is acting as co-chair of a biennial conference on monitoring and measurement of the environment, EnviroAnalysis, which has been run seven times since 1996.

Abstract

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were chemically modified via oxidation followed by side wall functionalization using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and octadecylamine (ODA); separately. Different characterization techniques such as FTIR spectrometery, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and solubility in different solvents were performed for pristine and chemically modified MWCNTs to prove the successful modification. The characterization techniques proved the presence of the functional groups on the MWCNTs surface. Thermal gravimetric analysis revealed that nearly 16% (by weight) of the MWCNTs were functionalized with PEG and 39% (by weight) was functionalized with ODA. The chemically  modified MWCNTs were used as the packing materials for the determination of different polyhalogenated organic pollutants; pentachlorophenol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol, 3,3’,4,4’-tetrachlorobiphenyl and 2,2’,5,5’-tetrabromobiphenyl, from aqueous solution based on solid-phase extraction. The results indicated that the chemically modified MWCNTs could be used for the extraction and simultaneous determination different pollutants in environmental water samples at trace levels.

Corresponding author information:

Mohamed Abdel Salam, PhD

Assistant Professor of Physical Chemistry

Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science

King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah

Jeddah 21589

P.O. Box 80203

Saudi Arabia

Phone: +966 541886660

Fax: +966 6952292

Email: masalam16@hotmail.com

www.kau.edu.sa/mabdelsalam

Scheme 1. Surface functionalization of MWCNTs surface and the formation of MWCNTs-PEG and MWCNTs-ODA.