Synthesis of Gd0.5Sr0.5FeO3 perovskite-type nanopowders for adsorptive removal of MB dye from water

Abstract

In the present study, nanoparticles of perovskite-type Gd0.5Sr0.5FeO3 (GSFO) were fabricated by a sol–gel method. A series of analytical techniques were used to characterize the crystallinity, morphology, specific surface area and grain size of GSFO powders. The thermal decomposition process of the complex precursor was examined by means of differential thermal analysis–thermal gravimetric analysis. X-ray diffraction results showed that a single perovskite phase was completely formed after calcination at 700 °C. In addition, transmission electron microscopy images revealed that the average size of the particles is approximately 35.23 nm in diameter. The surface morphology and composition of these nanopowders were also investigated using a scanning electron microscope and an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. GSFO nanoparticles showed excellent adsorption efficiency towards methylene blue dye in aqueous solution. The adsorption studies were carried out at different pH values, initial dye concentrations, various adsorbent doses and contact time in batch experiments. The dye removal efficiency was found to be increased with increasing the initial pH of the dye solution, and GSFO exhibited good dye removal efficiency at a basic pH, especially at a pH of 12. Experimental results indicated that the adsorption kinetic data follow a pseudo-second-order rate for the tested dye. The isotherm evaluations revealed that the Redlich–Peterson model attained better fits to the experiment's equilibrium data than the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich models.