Green carbon dot-embedded Electrospun PVA/gum arabic nanofibers for efficient crystal violet removal from aqueous...

Electrospun polymer nanofibers are highly effective adsorbents for removing hazardous water pollutants like organic dyes due to their large surface area, high porosity, numerous adsorption sites, and high adsorption capacity. Herein, a green adsorbent was prepared by electrospinning of polyvinyl alcohol, gum arabic, and carbon dots solution for the removal of cationic crystal violet dye from an aqueous environment. The as-prepared composite was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbent was investigated for the removal of crystal violet dye. The kinetics of adsorption were investigated using intraparticle diffusion, pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order kinetic models. The adsorption isotherm was also explored using the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models. The obtained results revealed that the adsorption process follow pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. The thermodynamics studies implied that the adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. Finally, according to the reusability tests, the prepared adsorbents showed high recoverability without considerable loss in adsorption capacity after six consecutive cycles. These results highlight the potential of carbon dot-embedded green electrospun nanofibers as efficient and sustainable adsorbents for dye-contaminated wastewater treatment.