Green synthesis of porous carbon cross-linked Y zeolite nanocrystals material and its performance for adsorptive removal of a methyl violet dye from water

Abstract

The cost-effective carbon cross-linked Y zeolite nanocrystals composite (NYC) was prepared using an eco-friendly substrate prepared from bio-waste and organic adhesive at intermediate conditions. The green synthesis method dependent in this study assures using chemically harmless compounds to ensure homogeneous distribution of zeolite over porous carbon. The greenly prepared cross-linked composite was extensively characterized using Fourier transform infrared, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, Field emission scanning electron microscope, Dispersive analysis by X-ray, Thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction. NYC had a surface area of 176.44 m2/g, and a pore volume of 0.0573 cm3/g. NYC had a multi-function nature, sustained at a long-exposure time during the adsorption process of methyl violet dye (MV) from aqueous solutions and achieved higher removal at normal temperature and pH. The Halsey and the Langmuir models were the most appropriate models for representing the equilibrium data with a maximum adsorption capacity of 108.7 mg/g. The kinetic studies showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and Elovich model were the most suitable models to describe the experimental data which indicated the MV adsorption by NYC has a chemical nature. Also, the interpretation of data by the Boyd model demonstrated that the adsorption process of MV was determined by both film diffusion and intra-particle diffusion. The adsorption process of MV by NYC is spontaneous, feasible, and exothermic. The regeneration performance showed that the NYC can be easily regenerated and reused with keeping an acceptable performance until the fourth cycle. Eventually, this study confirmed that the greenly prepared composite can serve as an adorable adsorbent for the removal of cationic dyes such as methyl violet under mild conditions.