One-pot synthesis of biomorphic Mg-Al mixed metal oxides with enhanced methyl orange adsorption properties

Abstract

Biomorphic Mg-Al mixed metal oxides with hierarchical structures were synthesized by a one-pot method employing cotton fibers as templates. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the as-prepared biomorphic Mg-Al mixed metal oxides retained the tubular morphology of cotton fibers. Adsorption of biomorphic Mg-Al mixed metal oxides for methyl orange was investigated in detail. Different conditions were evaluated, including adsorbent dosage, initial methyl orange concentration, adsorption time and temperature. The adsorption mechanism was also discussed according to the adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics. The results indicated that the adsorption process was well fit to Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model.