Applications of Fe3O4@AC nanoparticles for dye removal from simulated wastewater

Abstract

This study deals with the removal of cationic dyes from the simulated wastewater using Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles loaded activated carbon. Fe₃O₄@AC nanoparticles were synthesised using co-precipitation methods. The Fe₃O₄@AC nanoparticles (nps) were characterised using different techniques and data revealed that the synthesised nanoparticles were 6-16 nm in diameter. pHpzc of Fe₃O₄@AC nanoparticles was 7.8. BET surface area of Fe₃O₄@AC nps was found to be 129.6 m²/g by single point method and 1061.9 m²/g by multipoint method. Adsorption experiments were performed to optimize the effect of process conditions such as pH of solution, nanoparticles dose, temperature, concentration of dye and contact time on contaminant removal. The maximum uptake capacity of Fe₃O₄@AC was found to be 138 and 166.6 mg/g for methylene blue and brilliant green dyes, respectively. In order to assess dye adsorption behaviour, adsorption isotherm models viz., Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin were applied to the data. Langmuir isotherm best fitted [R² = 0.993 (MB) and R² = 0.920 (BG)] to the experimental data of both the dyes. Further, Pseudo-second order rate equation fitted better to the experimental data. Reuse potential of the nanoparticles was also investigated for the removal of both the dyes and it is inferred from the data that the synthesised nanoadsorbent has promising reuse potential, therefore can be used for several cycles.

Keywords: Brilliant green; Co-precipitation; Isotherms; Kinetics; Methylene blue.