Three-dimensional (3D) graphene oxide (GO)-based porous composites with strong compressive mechanical properties were prepared by self-assembly of corn zein (CZ) and GO through a facile hydrothermal process, which were used for the adsorption of rare earth elements (REEs) from aqueous solutions. The adsorption equilibrium for REEs by GOCZ composites could be achieved within 200 min. And the maximum adsorption capacities of GOCZ_9:1 for yttrium (Y), lanthanum (La), erbium (Er), ytterbium (Yb) and neodymium (Nd) were 14.2, 17.29, 11.72, 10.08 and 9.68 mg g⁻¹, respectively. The relatively high desorption rate (85–95%) of 3D GOCZ_9:1 composite represents a higher reproducibility. Moreover, the 3D GOCZ composites obtained with a mass ratio of 3:1, 5:1 and 9:1 for GO and CZ could be compressed to 60% of their original volumes and gradually restored to their original morphologies under the corresponding stresses of 18, 16 and 11 KPa, respectively. The adsorption mechanism was also proposed.

玉米醇溶蛋白（CZ）和GO通过便捷的水热过程自组装制备了具有强压缩机械性能的三维（3D）氧化石墨烯基多孔复合材料，用于吸附稀土元素（REE）来自水溶液。GO CZ复合材料对REE的吸附平衡可在200分钟内达到。GO CZ _9：1对钇（Y），镧（La），（Er），（Yb）和钕（Nd）的最大吸附容量分别为14.2、17.29、11.72、10.08和9.68 mg g ^-1， 分别。3D GO CZ _9：1复合材料的相对较高的解吸率（85–95％）表示较高的重现性。而且3D GO可以将GO和CZ的质量比为3：1、5：1和9：1的CZ复合材料压缩到其原始体积的60％，并在相应的18、16和11应力下逐渐恢复其原始形态千帕。还提出了吸附机理。