In order to prevent the reunion of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) during storage, a-zirconium phosphate
(ZrP) was used as the modifier, and a peculiar adsorbent of ZrP–pillared rGO (rGO–ZrP) was prepared. The
features of rGO–ZrP were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron
microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersion X-ray (EDX) spectrometer,
atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. Then, rGO–ZrP was employed
as the adsorbent and the adsorption characteristics of rGO–ZrP toward methylene blue (MB) were evaluated
under laboratory conditions. The results showed that rGO–ZrP possessed a higher BET specific surface
area relative to rGO. The maximum adsorption quantity of MB onto the new prepared rGO–ZrP was
1.38 g/g at 30 C. With the increase of storage day, the BET specific surface area and the maximum
adsorption capacity of rGO–ZrP approximately remained unchanged. Under the maximum adsorption
capacity, the adsorption quantity of MB onto rGO–ZrP was dependent on the initial concentration of
MB, and higher temperature could facilitate the adsorption process. The efficiency of rGO–ZrP almost
remained constant during the first six cycles of adsorption–desorption process. In addition, the fluorescence
spectra implied that the adsorption of MB onto rGO–ZrP was a p–p stacking adsorption
process, and the pillared structure of rGO–ZrP greatly enhanced the noncovalent adhesion. In conclusion,
rGO–ZrP could serve as a promising adsorbent for the removal of MB in waste water.