Concentration-driven selective adsorption of Congo red in binary dyes solution using polyacrolein: Experiments, characterization and mechanism studies

Cost effective porous areca nut carbon nanospheres for adsorptive removal of dyes and their binary mixtures

Novel porous nanospheres from areca nuts (ACNPs) were synthesized via one-step pyrolysis without the use of any chemical treatment and the materials were used as adsorbents for the removal of cationic methylene blue (MB) and anionic methyl orange (MO) as well as their binary mixtures. Around, 6-7 tonnes of areca nut biowaste is generated every year which are then burnt due to their slow rate of decomposition resulting in higher carbon footprints. Biosorbents are generally a preferable alternative for dye adsorption but involve chemical modification for surface enhancement and complex sample treatment. In this work, ACNPs, were investigated for their efficiency in the raw form and were characterized by SEM, EDS, FTIR, XRD, and BET techniques before and after subjecting to the dye adsorption studies. The BET analysis of the adsorbents showed a high specific surface area of 693.8 m²/g when prepared at 1000 °C, while the N₂ adsorption-desorption plot showed type-IV isotherm, suggesting the microporous nature of the carbon matrix. Batch equilibrium studies showed the removal efficiency of >95% for both the dyes and their binary mixtures under the optimum conditions of 0.15 g/L dosage, 10 μM concentration and contact time of 70 min. Due to the synergistic effects of the binary dyes, higher removal efficiency of MB compared to MO was observed in the binary mixture. Adsorption results were tested using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Redlich-Peterson, and Elovich isotherms to assess the best fit of the models. The q_m value of MB was found to be 97.37 mg/g, while that of MO was 71.22 mg/g which is higher compared to individual dye components having lower values of 86.12 mg/g and 50.35 mg/g, respectively. Extended Langmuir and Jain and Snoeyink isotherms were used for binary data interpretation. The kinetic results showed good agreement with the Pseudo-second order equation, indicating internal diffusion. The possible mechanism involved electrostatic and ᴨ-ᴨ interactions between the dye molecules and ACNPs. This approach is comprehensible and cost effective and can be utilized for dye removal in textile industries.

Selective adsorption and separation of methylene blue by facily preparable xanthan gum/amantadine composites

In this work, xanthan gum-based composites were successfully graft-modified by amantadine (XG-Fe³⁺/AM) with higher adsorption capacity and selectivity on recycling cationic dye (methylene blue, MB) from aqueous solution. The adsorption equilibrium of MB could be achieved approximately within 5 min when the initial concentration was 100 mg/L, and the maximum adsorption capacity was up to 565 mg/g. After 5 desorption-regeneration cycles, the removal rate of XG-Fe³⁺/AM for MB could still be as high as 95 % with slight decrement. Additionally, the effects of pH, contact time, temperature and initial dye concentration on the adsorption performance of MB were systematically examined. Furthermore, the adsorbent was characterized by FT-IR, BET and XPS analysis. In mixed anionic and cationic dyes, the adsorption selectivity of XG-Fe³⁺/AM on MB in the mixture of MB and methyl orange (MO) reached up to 99.69 %. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed that the trend of adsorption energy for dyes was in good agreement of the experimental order of adsorption capacities and molecular sizes among seven anionic and cationic dyes based on molecular matching effect and electrostatic interaction. Therefore, XG-Fe³⁺/AM is an eco-friendly, facile-synthesis and high-selectivity adsorbent, which remove cationic dyes in multi-component systems through electrostatic interaction and molecular matching effect.

Synthesis of mesoporous-structured MIL-68(Al)/MCM-41-NH2 for methyl orange adsorption: Optimization and Selectivity

Here, we report a novel amino-modified mesoporous-structured aluminum-based metal-organic framework adsorbent, MIL-68(Al)/MCM-41-NH₂, for dye sewage treatment. The introduction of molecular sieves overcomes the inherent defects of microporous MOFs in contaminant transfer and provides more active sites to enhance adsorption efficiency. Compared with using organic amino ligands directly, this strategy is ten times cheaper. The composite was well characterized and analyzed in terms of morphology, structure and chemical composition. Batch experiments were carried out to study the influences of essential factors on the process, such as pH and temperature. In addition, their interactions and the optimum conditions were examined using response surface methodology (RSM). The adsorption kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics were systematically elucidated. In detail, the adsorption process conforms to pseudo-second-order kinetics and follows the Sips and Freundlich isothermal models. Moreover, the maximum adsorption capacity Q_s of methyl orange (MO) was 477 mg g^-1. It could be concluded that the process was spontaneous, exothermic, and entropy-reducing. Several binary dye systems have been designed for selective adsorption research. Our material has an affinity for anionic pigments. The adsorption mechanisms were discussed in depth. The electrostatic interaction might be the dominant effect. Meanwhile, hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and pore filling might be important driving forces. The excellent thermal stability and recyclability of the adsorbent are readily noticed. After five reuse cycles, the composite still possesses a removal efficiency of 90% for MO. Overall, the efficient and low-cost composite can be regarded as a promising adsorbent for the selective adsorption of anionic dyes from wastewater.

Enhanced Congo Red Adsorption and Photo-Fenton Oxidation over an Iron-Impeded Geopolymer from Ferruginous Kaolinite: Steric, Energetic, Oxidation, and Synergetic Studies

An iron-impeded geopolymer (Fe/GP) was synthesized from natural ferruginous kaolinite and optical waste for enhanced decontamination of Congo red (CR) dye. The adsorption properties of Fe/GP were assessed using an advanced monolayer equilibrium model of one energy (R ² > 0.99). Fe/GP possessed an active site density of 391.3 mg/g, which induced an adsorption capacity of 634 mg/g at the saturation state. The number of adsorbed CR molecules per site (n = 1.56-1.62) reflected the possible uptake of two molecules per site via a multimolecular mechanism. The adsorption energy (5.12-5.7 kJ/mol) reflected the physical adsorption of the CR molecules via hydrogen bonding and/or van der Waals forces. As a catalyst, notable activity toward photo-Fenton oxidation was achieved even at high CR concentrations. Complete oxidation was observed after 30 (CR concentration: 10 mg/L), 50 (20 mg/L), 80 (30 mg/L), 120 (40 mg/L), and 140 min (50 mg/L). High oxidation efficiency was achieved using 0.1 g/L Fe/GP, 0.1 mL of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and a visible light source. Increasing the Fe/GP dosage to 0.3 g/L resulted in complete oxidation of CR (100 mg/L) after 220 min. Therefore, synthetic Fe/GP can be used as a low-cost and superior catalyst and adsorbent for the removal of CR-based contaminants via adsorption or advanced oxidation processes.