Greenly synthesised novel microporous ZnO/GO for adsorption of methyl orange and malachite green

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study presents a greenly synthesised novel nanocomposite composed of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Graphene Oxide (GO) for the adsorption of dyes from aqueous solutions. The nanocomposite was synthesised using algae thus representing a green and eco-friendly method, ensuring minimal environmental impact. The physical characterisation of zinc oxide and graphene oxide nanocomposite (ZnO/GO) was done using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Zeta Potential, and Particle Size Analyzer (PSA). The pore diameter of the ZnO/GO was 1.801 nm, and its total surface area was 54.062 m2/g. The nanocomposite’s adsorption performance was systematically investigated through batch adsorption experiments. With an adsorption efficiency of 296.73 mg/g and 259.74 mg/g for MO and MG, the Langmuir isotherm model outperforms the Freundlich isotherm model in terms of adsorption. The pseudo-second-order model having an R2 value of 0.99 for both MO and MG, offers a more convincing explanation of adsorption than the pseudo-first-order model. The results demonstrated rapid adsorption kinetics and high adsorption capacities for both cationic and anionic dyes. Additionally, the ZnO/GO has a high reusability without significant degradation. The sustainable nature of the nanocomposite was emphasised by its efficient dye removal, reusability, and minimal secondary waste generation.