Hibiscus sabdariffa assisted green fabrication of reduced graphene oxide and its application for methyl orange removal: Optimization employing response surface methodology

Abstract

Eco-friendly fabrication of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is of paramount importance among various carbon nanostructures. In the current research, sustainable preparation of rGO via aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyces as the green reducer of graphene oxide (GO) without utilizing hazardous chemical agents was described. The structural characteristics of the GO and rGO were studied utilizing Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV–Visible spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The prepared nanostructure was applied as the potential adsorbent for effective methyl orange (MO) decolorization and degradation in aqueous solution. The effect of numerous independent parameters on the decolorization process involving rGO dosage, H2O2 volume, process time, and temperature were assessed and optimized via Box-Behnken design/response surface methodology BBD/RSM). A second-order model was proved to express the decolorization efficiency (D %) responses with high values of R2 and adjusted R2. Under optimal condition, the decolorization rate of MO using rGO was higher than 99 % in contact time of 31 min. The reusability of rGO for the MO removal manifested good efficiency in up to five cycles of recyclability. The findings of this research illustrate the feasibility of Hs based rGO as a suitable adsorbent for effective decolorization of MO dye from aqueous medium.