Tryptophan-functionalized fullerene C60 anchored on graphene oxide as a breakthrough in simultaneous multi-element sorption

The persistent water contamination by toxic metal ions such as Cr(III), Cu(II), Hg(II), and Pb(II) presents significant public health challenges worldwide. This study introduces a novel carbon nanomaterial for efficient multi-elemental sorption, focusing on L-tryptophan functionalized fullerene C60 core stabilized on graphene oxide (GO-C60-Trp). The material structure, characterized by SEM, TEM, ATR-FTIR, and XPS, confirms the successful attachment of C60-Trp onto the graphene oxide surface, improving its physicochemical properties and enhancing durability in a water environment. The adsorption kinetics experiment using GO-C60-Trp indicates predominant chemisorption mechanisms with equilibrium obtained within 15–20 min and a very low adsorbent dose of 50 mg/L. The adsorption nature was also confirmed by adsorption isotherms, which revealed the adsorption capacities of 26, 95, 321, and 278 mg/g for Cr(III), Cu(II), Hg(II), and Pb(II), respectively. The material demonstrates excellent potential for water purification, given its high metal affinity, even in the presence of co-existing ions at high excess. Furthermore, its stability and functional versatility offer enormous possibilities for multiple sorbent regeneration and reuse at least 20 times, aligning with Green Chemistry principles. This innovative approach addresses metal ion contamination in water, offering a sustainable solution for environmental remediation and potential applications in analytical chemistry.