Comparisons of sorbent cost for the removal of Ni2+ from aqueous solution by carbon nanotubes and granular activated carbon.

The reversibility of Ni2+ sorption by NaOCl oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and granular activated carbon (GAC) was investigated to evaluate their repeated availability performance in water treatment. Under the same conditions, the SWCNTs and MWCNTs possess more Ni2+ sorption capacities and show better reversibility of Ni2+ sorption and less weight loss after being repeated sorption/desorption processes than the GAC, suggesting that they are effective Ni2+ sorbents and can be reused through many cycles of water treatment and regeneration. A statistical analysis on the replacement cost of these sorbents revealed that SWCNTs and MWCNTs can be possibly cost-effective Ni2+ sorbents in water treatment regardless of their high unit cost at the present time.