Optimization of growth temperature of multi-walled carbon nanotubes fabricated by chemical vapour deposition and their application for arsenic removal

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes have been synthesized at different temperatures ranging from 550 ◦C to 750 ◦C on silica supported Fe–Mo catalyst by chemical vapour deposition technique using Cymbopogen flexuous oil under nitrogen atmosphere. The as-grown MWNTs were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Raman spectral studies. The HRTEM and Raman spectroscopic studies confirmed the evolution of MWNTs with the outer diameter between 20 and 40 nm. The possibility of using as-grown MWNTs as an adsorbent for removal of As (V) ions from drinking water was studied. Adsorption isotherm data were interpreted by the Langmuir and Freundlich equations. Kinetic data were studied using Elovich, pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order equations in order to elucidate the reaction mechanism.