Efficient dye removal from aqueous solution using a hybrid GA@ZnO-AC nanocomposite

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Colored effluents from industrial discharge pose significant environmental risks due to water contamination.
• Effective removal of dyes like methylene blue (MB) from aqueous media is crucial for environmental protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a hybrid nanostructure metal composite material (GA@ZnO-AC) for methylene blue adsorption.
• To evaluate the adsorptive performance and efficiency of the synthesized nanocomposite for dye removal from water.

Main Methods:

• Hydrothermal and thermal treatment methods were employed for the synthesis of the GA@ZnO-AC hybrid nanocomposite.
• Characterization was performed using FTIR, SEM-EDX, BET, XRD, TGA, and TEM analyses.
• Adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the optimal conditions (contact time, temperature, dosage, pH) for MB removal.

Main Results:

• The GA@ZnO-AC nanocomposite exhibited high BET surface area (467.51 m²/g) and thermal stability.
• Optimal adsorption conditions achieved high MB removal percentages: 98.61% for ZnO-AC and 98.30% for GA@ZnO-AC.
• The Langmuir adsorption capacities were 153.85 mg/g for ZnO-AC and 175.44 mg/g for GA@ZnO-AC at 298 K.
• Adsorption followed Redlich-Peterson and PSO models, indicating a spontaneous, feasible, exothermic, and physisorption process.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized GA@ZnO-AC hybrid nanocomposite is a highly effective and low-cost adsorbent for methylene blue removal.
• The material demonstrates excellent adsorption capacity and thermal stability, making it a promising solution for industrial wastewater treatment.
• The study highlights the potential of hybrid nanocomposites in addressing environmental concerns related to dye contamination.