Tracking Hg2+ adsorption by reduced graphene oxide in continuous flow by in situ techniques

Abstract

Mercury pollution poses severe risks to environmental and public health due to its high toxicity and persistence. The use of physical adsorbents for heavy metal cation uptake is a straightforward solution for many applications, but a better fundamental understanding of the mechanism is crucial for rational improvement. We have investigated the adsorption of mercury ions on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) in real time by coupling continuous flow setups with in situ analytical techniques: X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (EQCM-D). The microfluidic setup provided a practical and efficient platform for mimicking realistic conditions, requiring minimal sample volumes and enabling continuous flow analysis, while the in situ XAS brought detailed atomic and electronic structural information, allowing for following changes in mercury ion coordination as adsorption proceeded. Similarly, EQCM-D followed the mass changes and viscoelastic properties of the rGO layer under dynamic flow conditions upon adsorption. The approach distinguished chemisorbed from physisorbed mercury cations, revealing a yet undescribed transition between the two forms. This enables a better understanding of the adsorption mechanisms and highlights the benefits of coupling microfluidic systems with advanced in situ techniques.

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BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{andrade2026tracking,
  title = {{Tracking Hg2+ adsorption by reduced graphene oxide in continuous flow by in situ techniques}},
  author = {Marcelo Andrade and Aram Bugaev and Alina Skorynina and Camille Douard and Olivier Crosnier and Björn Wickman and Patrik Johansson and Thierry Brousse},
  journal = {Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1016/j.jece.2025.118680},
  url = {https://hal.science/hal-05299838v2},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Tracking Hg2+ adsorption by reduced graphene oxide in continuous flow by in situ techniques
AU  - Marcelo Andrade
AU  - Aram Bugaev
AU  - Alina Skorynina
AU  - Camille Douard
AU  - Olivier Crosnier
AU  - Björn Wickman
AU  - Patrik Johansson
AU  - Thierry Brousse
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/07
JO  - Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
DO  - 10.1016/j.jece.2025.118680
UR  - https://hal.science/hal-05299838v2
AB  - Mercury pollution poses severe risks to environmental and public health due to its high toxicity and persistence. The use of physical adsorbents for heavy metal cation uptake is a straightforward solution for many applications, but a better fundamental understanding of the mechanism is crucial for rational improvement. We have investigated the adsorption of mercury ions on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) in real time by coupling continuous flow setups with in situ analytical techniques: X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (EQCM-D). The microfluidic setup provided a practical and efficient platform for mimicking realistic conditions, requiring minimal sample volumes and enabling continuous flow analysis, while the in situ XAS brought detailed atomic and electronic structural information, allowing for following changes in mercury ion coordination as adsorption proceeded. Similarly, EQCM-D followed the mass changes and viscoelastic properties of the rGO layer under dynamic flow conditions upon adsorption. The approach distinguished chemisorbed from physisorbed mercury cations, revealing a yet undescribed transition between the two forms. This enables a better understanding of the adsorption mechanisms and highlights the benefits of coupling microfluidic systems with advanced in situ techniques.
SN  - 2213-3437
SN  - 2213-2929
ER  -

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