Preparation, structure and adsorption properties of synthesized multiwall carbon nanotubes for highly effective removal of maxilon blue dye

Abstract

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been hydrothermally prepared using polyethylene glycol as the carbon source. Herein, new MWCNTs composites with high adsorption capacity were prepared and applied as efficient adsorbents for adsorption of maxilon blue dye (GRL) from aqueous solution. The morphologies of the MWCNTs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The adsorption property of maxilon blue (GRL) from aqueous solution onto MWCNTs was studied as a function of mass dosage, pH of solution, initial dye concentration and temperature. The adsorption of GRL depends on the initial pH of the solution with maximum uptake occurring at about pH 10. The maximum adsorption capacity of prepared MWCNTs was 260.7mg/g. Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms were applied to fit the experimental data. The Freundlich equilibrium isotherm fitted well the experimental data indicating the homogeneity of the adsorbent surface sites. Thermodynamics parameters were studied the changes in free energy (ΔG0), enthalpy (ΔH0) and entropy (ΔS0) during adsorption. It is noticeable that the adsorption of GRL dye onto MWCNTs was a spontaneous and endothermic process and indicates that the adsorption is favored at high temperature.