Magnetite carboxymethylcellulose as biological macromolecule-based absorbent for cationic dyes removal from environmental samples

Abstract

In this study, magnetite carboxymethylcellulose (CMC@Fe3O4) composite as magnetic biological molecules were synthetized for the use as adsorbent to remove four types of cationic dyes, namely Methylene Blue, Rhodamine B, Malachite Green, and Methyl Violet from aqueous solution. The characteristic of the adsorbent was achieved by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), X-ray Diffraction, Vibrating Sample Magnetometer and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis techniques. Besides, essential influencing parameters of dye adsorption; the solution pH, solution temperature, contact time, adsorbent concentration and initial dye dosage were studied. FESEM analysis showed the magnetic Fe3O4-TB, Fe3O4@SiO2, Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 and CMC@Fe3O4 composites were in spherical shape, with average size of 43.0 nm, 92.5 nm, 134.0 nm and 207.5 nm, respectively. On the saturation magnetization (Ms), the results obtained were 55.931 emu/g, 34.557 emu/g, 33.236 emu/g and 11.884 emu/g. From the sorption modelling of Isotherms, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics, the adsorption capacity of dyes is (MB = 103.33 mg/g), (RB = 109.60 mg/g), (MG = 100.08 mg/g) and (MV = 107.78 mg/g). With all the adsorption processes exhibited as exothermic reactions. The regeneration and reusability of the synthetized biological molecules-based adsorbent was also assessed.