Amirkabir Journal of Civil Engineering

Amirkabir Journal of Civil Engineering

A Review on the Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Wastewater Using Ion Flotation with Graphene Oxide and Functionalized Graphene Oxide Nanocollectors

Document Type : Review Article

Authors
Abutaleb Binaei
Arash Sobouti
Bahram Rezai
Department of Mining Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran, Tehran
10.22060/ceej.2026.24221.8279
Abstract
The development of technology has led to an increase in heavy metal pollution due to their high toxicity and detrimental effects on human health and the environment. Various methods exist for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater. Among them, ion flotation is an efficient technique for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions, offering high efficiency and low operational costs. This method has the potential to remove both inorganic and organic anions and cations, and it is considered one of the most advanced water treatment technologies. In recent years, the use of graphene oxide nanocollectors and functionalized graphene oxide in this process has attracted significant attention. These nanocollectors exhibit remarkable performance in removing heavy metal ions from wastewater due to their high specific surface area, good stability, ease of synthesis, high efficiency, and reusability. Studies have shown that surface modification of graphene oxide with appropriate functional groups improves selectivity and enhances the efficiency of ion flotation. This article reviews recent advances in the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater using ion flotation. It also explores adsorption mechanisms, the influence of various parameters, and optimization methods for the ion flotation process using graphene oxide and functionalized graphene oxide nanocollectors, and offers suggestions for future research on graphene-based nanocomposites and natural adsorbents.
Keywords
Ion Flotation
Graphene Oxide
Adsorption Mechanism
Desorption
Heavy Metal Ions
Subjects
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Amirkabir Journal of Civil Engineering
Volume 57, Issue 9
December 2025
Pages 1507-1540