Effective mitigation of single-component and mixed textile dyes from aqueous media using recyclable graphene-based nanocomposite

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2022-05, Vol.29 (21), p.32120-32141
• Main Authors: Tran, Thuan Van, Vo, Dai-Viet N., Nguyen, Duyen Thi Cam, Ching, Yern Chee, Nguyen, Ngoc Tung, Nguyen, Quang Trung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Antibiotics; Aquatic Pollution; Aqueous solutions; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Carboxylic acids; Coloring Agents; Crystal structure; Dyes; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Fourier transforms; Functional groups; Gentian Violet; Graphene; Graphite; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; Isotherms; Kinetics; Malachite green; Methylene blue; Methylene Blue - chemistry; Nanocomposites; Phenols; Raman spectroscopy; Research Article; Rhodamine; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Surface chemistry; Textiles; Thermodynamic models; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollution Control; Water treatment; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-18570-y

The present study reported the synthesis and utilization of a graphene-based hybrid nanocomposite (MnFe 2 O 4 /G) to mitigate several synthetic dyes, including methylene blue, malachite green, crystal violet, and Rhodamine B. This adsorbent was structurally analyzed by several physicochemical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, N 2 adsorption–desorption isotherm measurement, point of zero charge, and Boehm titrations. BET surface area of MnFe 2 O 4 /G was measured at 382.98 m 2 /g, which was substantially higher than that of MnFe 2 O 4 . MnFe 2 O 4 /G possessed diverse surface chemistry properties with the presence of many functional groups such as carboxylic acid, phenolic, lactone, and basic groups. MnFe 2 O 4 /G was used to remove synthetic dyes in the aqueous media. The effect of many factors, e.g., concentration (5–50 mg/L), pH (4–10), dose (5–20 mg), and temperature (25–45 °C) on adsorption performance of MnFe 2 O 4 /G was conducted. Kinetic, isotherm, intraparticle, and thermodynamic models were adopted for investigating adsorption phenomenon of dyes on MnFe 2 O 4 /G. The maximum adsorption capacity of dyes over MnFe 2 O 4 /G was found as Rhodamine B (67.8 mg/g) < crystal violet (81.3 mg/g) < methylene blue (137.7 mg/g) < malachite green (394.5 mg/g). Some tests were performed to remove mixed dyes, and mixed dyes in the presence of antibiotics with total efficiencies of 65.8–87.9% after 120 min. Moreover, the major role of π–π stacking interaction was clarified to gain insight into the adsorption mechanism. MnFe 2 O 4 /G could recycle up to 4 cycles, which may be beneficial for further practical water treatment.