One-step processing of low-cost and superb natural magnetic adsorbent: kinetics and thermodynamics investigation for dye removal from textile wastewater

Abstract

A simple, one-step and dry hybridization technique was successfully implemented to fabricate superb and low-cost magnetic adsorbent for removal of organic dyes. The structural and textural properties of the prepared banded iron formation @bentonite (BIF@BEN) composite were clearly investigated using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area (BET) and porosity analysis (BJH) techniques. The dye removal efficiency was optimized by studying several parameters, namely, pH, temperature, contact time and initial dye concentration. The maximum adsorption capacity achieved for crystal violet (CV) and acid red (AR) dyes were about 117 and 91 mg/g, respectively at pH 7, 60 °C in 60 min. The equilibrium data of both dyes’ adsorption on the BIF@BEN composite showed better fitting to Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption process is spontaneous, endothermic and favorable at high temperatures. The prepared magnetic adsorbent showed higher adsorption performance than activated bentonite for removal of anionic dye (AR) and the same performance for removal of cationic dye (CV). The magnetic adsorbent is actually reused and easily separated from textile wastewater with total removal efficiencies 81% and 74.5% for all inorganic and organic pollutants, respectively after two adsorption cycles.