Optimisation and evaluation of reactive eriochrome black T dye removal on magnetic iron modified with sky fruit from an aqueous solution

Abstract

ABSTRACT The presence of Eriochrome Black T (EBT) in water bodies at low concentrations is creating many problems for human health and different aquatic organisms. In this manuscript, we synthesised magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) modified activated carbon (AC) derived from sky fruit by co-precipitation process for the removal of EBT dye from an aqueous solution. The structural features of the synthesised materials were analysed by utilising X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM) Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). To know the optimum value for EBT dye adsorption, we performed various parameters such as initial dye concentration was 20 mg/L, adsorbent dosage was 100 mg, stirring time was 350 rpm, contact time was 60 min and pH was 4. The isotherm model was well-fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.99). The adsorption capacity was found to be 49.48 mg/g. The adsorption kinetic model was well-fitted with the Pseudo-second-order model. In this research article, the adsorption mechanism was critically investigated. The adsorbent can be reusable after 5 cycles with 61.45%, which signifies that the adsorbent is a promising choice for EBT dye removal.