Graphene Oxide–Based Materials for Heavy Metal Ion Adsorption: A Comprehensive Review

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jes.202602404

Author(s)

Jiangnan Hua

Affiliation(s)

Ulink Bilingual School, Shanghai Campus, Shanghai, China *Corresponding Author

Abstract

Accelerating global industrialization and urbanization, coupled with the proliferation of emerging technologies, have rendered heavy metal contamination an environmental and public health crisis of growing international concern. The recalcitrance of heavy metals to degradation and their propensity for bioaccumulation pose severe threats to ecological integrity and human health. Conventional remediation strategies-principally chemical precipitation, ion exchange, and membrane separation-are inherently constrained by prohibitive costs, limited removal efficiencies, and poor regenerability, rendering them inadequate for the treatment of increasingly complex heavy metal-laden wastewaters. Graphene oxide (GO), distinguished by its exceptionally high specific surface area, abundant oxygen-containing functional groups, outstanding adsorption capacity, and versatile chemical modifiability, has emerged as a promising platform for overcoming these limitations and has attracted intensive research interest as a next-generation heavy metal adsorbent. Drawing upon high-impact literature from Web of Science and other mainstream databases, this review employs bibliometric and systematic review methodologies-screening publications by date, impact factor, and data integrity-to critically examine the research progress of GO and its composites in heavy metal remediation. The enhancing effects of key modification strategies on adsorption performance are evaluated, including magnetic functionalization, amino functionalization, chitosan hybridization, and membrane fabrication. Furthermore, persistent technical bottlenecks are identified, including insufficient selectivity, poor adaptability to complex aqueous matrices, and limited scalability. The review concludes with a forward-looking discussion on precision recognition, green and sustainable material design, and other promising research directions.

Keywords

Graphene Oxide; Heavy Metal Adsorption; Functionalized Composites; Magnetic Separation; Membrane Filtration; Water Remediation

References

[1] Liu, C., Liu, Y., Song, Z., et al. Research progress on new materials for adsorption of heavy metal ions from wastewater. New Chem. Mater. 50, 306–309 (2022). [2] Fu, F. & Wang, Q. Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewaters: A review. J. Environ. Manage. 92, 407–418 (2011) [3] Arora, R. Adsorption of heavy metals – A review. Mater. Today Proc. 18, 4745–4750 (2019). [4]Ruan, Y., Yao, P., Chen, G., et al. Research progress on adsorption of heavy metal ions by graphene oxide-based materials. Text. Aux. 39, 9–17 (2022). [5]Chen, Y., Zhang, Z., Shan, F. Research progress on adsorption of heavy metal ions by graphene oxide and its composites. J. Liaoning Univ. Technol. (Nat. Sci. Ed.) 42, 325–332 (2022). [6] Zhao, G., Li, J., Ren, X., et al. Few-layered graphene oxide nanosheets as superior sorbents for heavy metal ion pollution management. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45, 10454–10462 (2011). [7] Sherlala, A., Raman, A., Bello, M. M., et al. Adsorption of arsenic using chitosan magnetic graphene oxide nanocomposite. J. Environ. Manage. 246, 547–556 (2019). [8] Wu, X., Liu, J., Xiao, J., et al. Research progress on adsorption of heavy metal cations by graphene oxide-based materials. Shandong Chem. Ind. 52, 86–89 (2023). [9] Huang, D., Wu, J., Wang, L., et al. Novel insight into adsorption and co-adsorption of heavy metal ions and an organic pollutant by magnetic graphene nanomaterials in water. Chem. Eng. J. 358, 1400–1410 (2019). [10] Kumar, R., Barshan, S., Muntean, C. E., et al. Selective capture of Pb(II), Hg(II), and Cd(II) from aqueous solution by amino-functionalized magnetic graphene oxide. Sep. Purif. Technol. 280, 119947 (2022). [11] Deshwal, N., Singh, M. B., Bahadur, I., et al. A review on recent advancements on removal of harmful metal/metal ions using graphene oxide: Experimental and theoretical approaches. Sci. Total Environ. 858, 159672 (2023). [12] Ahmad, S. Z. N., Salleh, W. N. W., Ismail, A. F., et al. Adsorptive removal of heavy metal ions using graphene-based nanomaterials: Toxicity, roles of functional groups and mechanisms. Chemosphere 248, 126008 (2020). [13] Valli, F., Banda, R., Abbas, A., et al. Graphene-based materials for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater: A review. Chemosphere 296, 134074 (2022). [14] Guo, L., Ye, P., Wang, J., et al. Three-dimensional Fe₃O₄–graphene macroscopic composites for arsenic and arsenate removal. J. Hazard. Mater. 298, 28–35 (2015). [15] Zhang, S., Zeng, M., Xu, W., et al. Polydopamine-reinforced GO/PVDF membrane with super-hydrophilic and underwater super-oleophobic properties for effective heavy metal removal. J. Membr. Sci. 593, 117421 (2020). [16] Fan, Y., Ye, K., Ju, J., et al. Progress in preparation of chitosan/graphene oxide composites and their adsorption–separation performance for heavy metals. Leather Sci. Eng. 35, 45–52 (2025). [17] Zhang, T., Sun, T., Jiang, Y., et al. Adsorption and detection of heavy metal ions in water by graphene oxide and its composites. Shandong Chem. Ind. 54, 96–100 (2025). [18] Wang, J. & Guo, X. Adsorption kinetic models: Physical meanings, applications, and solving methods. J. Hazard. Mater. 390, 122156 (2020). [19] Li, Y., Zhang, P., Du, Q., et al. Adsorption of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution by graphene-based materials: A review. J. Environ. Manage. 310, 114731 (2022). [20] Sun, Y., Wang, Q., Chen, C., et al. Removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution by graphene oxide and its composites: A critical review. Environ. Pollut. 268, 115912 (2021).