Plant-mediated synthesis of Cu0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles using Minidium leavigatum and their applications as an adsorbent for removal of reactive blue 222 dye

Abstract

Cu0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized using Minidium leavigatum extract and required metal salts by a green method. This method has some benefits such as nontoxic, economic viability, ease to scale up, less time consuming and environmental friendly approach for the synthesis of Cu0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles without using any hazardous organic chemicals. The sample was characterized by powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The environmentally friendly synthesized nanoparticles were used as adsorbent for removal of reactive blue 222 (RB 222) dye from aqueous solutions. The effects of initial dye concentration and nanoparticle dosage on dye adsorption were assessed. Adsorption equilibrium studies were investigated to determine the adsorption capacity of the adsorbents by using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The Langmuir model yielded more suitable than the Freundlich model for the adsorption of RB 222 on Cu0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles. Adsorption kinetics obeyed a pseudo second-order kinetic model.