Nano Molybdenum trioxide (α-MoO3) was synthesized in an easy and efficient approach. The removal of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solutions was studied using this material. The effects of various experimental parameters, for example contact time, pH, temperature and initial MB concentration on removal capacity were explored. The removal of MB was significantly affected by pH and temperature and higher values resulted in increase of removal capacity of MB. The removal efficiency of Methylene blue was 100% at pH = 11 for initial dye concentrations lower than 150 ppm, with a maximum removal capacity of 152 mg/g of MB as gathered from Langmuir model. By comparing the kinetic models (pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order and intraparticle diffusion model) at various conditions, it has been found that the pseudo second-order kinetic model correlates with the experimental data well. The thermodynamic study indicated that the removal was endothermic, spontaneous and favorable. The thermal regeneration studies indicated that the removal efficiency (99%) was maintained after four cycles of use. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed the presence of the MB dye on the α-MoO3 nanoparticles after adsorption and regeneration. The α-MoO3 nanosorbent showed excellent removal efficiency before and after regeneration, suggesting that it can be used as a promising adsorbent for removing Methylene blue dye from wastewater.

Nickel molybdate (NiMoO4) nanoparticles were synthesized via calcination of an oxalate complex in static air at 500 °C. The oxalate complex was analyzed by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The as-synthesized nickel molybdate was characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller technique (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and its catalytic efficiency was tested in the reduction reaction of the three-nitrophenol isomers. The nickel molybdate displays a very high activity in the catalytic reduction of the nitro functional group to an amino. The reduction progress was controlled using Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) absorption.

Zinc molybdate (ZnMoO4) was prepared by thermal decomposition of an oxalate complex under a controlled temperature of 500 °C. Analyses of the oxalate complex were carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). On the other hand, analyses of the synthesized zinc molybdate were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller technique (BET). The efficiency of the synthesized catalyst was tested with the reduction reaction of 3-nitrophenol (3-NP), and was also applied as a sorbent for methylene blue dye (MB) in aqueous solutions. The catalytic test of zinc molybdate shows a very high activity. The concentration reduction progress and adsorption of the dye were followed by an ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometer.

The aim of this work was to investigate the use of modified nigella sativa seeds (MNS) for removing of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solution. The nigella sativa (NS) seeds have been pre-treated at different temperatures and periods of time. The maximum adsorption of MB was achieved using NS sample washed with distilled water pre-heated at 65 °C for one hour, then ground to 250 µm particle size (MNS-4). Different parameters were modified to optimize the removal process of MB using MNS-4, such as contact times, temperatures, initial dye concentrations, adsorbent doses, and pH of the solution. MNS-4 exhibited a removal efficiency of 99% for initial dye concentrations greater than 800 ppm at pH value of 11. The kinetic study indicated that the removal process follows the pseudo second order model. The removal was spontaneous, endothermic and favorable, and this was indicated by the thermodynamic study. Maximum removal capacity was 194 mg/g as deduced from Langmuir model. The removal efficiency was maintained after four recycle uses. The modified nigella sativa seeds were characterized before, and after adsorption and regeneration by Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The data suggested that nigella sativa seeds could be a prospective agent for removing MB from wastewater.

The effect of the counteranion of hexadecyltrimethylammonium salts on the physico-chemical properties of organoclays was investigated, using a selected natural clay mineral with a cation exchange capacity of 95 meq/100 g. The uptake amount of C16 cations was dependent on the hexadecyltrimethylammonium (C16) salt solution used, the organoclay prepared from C16Br salt solution exhibited a value of 1. 05 mmole/g higher than those prepared from C16Cl and C16OH salt solutions. The basal spacing of these organoclays was in the range of 1.81 nm to 2.10 nm, indicating a similar orientation of the intercalated surfactants, and could indicated that the excess amount of surfactants, above the cation exchange capacity of 0.95 meq/g could be adsorbed on the external surface of the clay mineral sheets. These organoclays were found to be stable in neutral, acidic, and basic media. The thermal stability of these organoclays was carried out using thermogravimetric analysis and in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The decomposition of the surfactant occurred at a maximum temperature of 240 °C, accompanied with a decrease of the basal spacing value close to 1.42 nm. The application of these organoclays was investigated to remove an acidic dye, eosin. The removal amount was related to the initial used concentrations, the amount of the surfactants contents, and to the preheated temperatures of the organoclays. The removal was found to be endothermic process with a maximum amount of 55 mg of eosin/g of organoclay. The value decreased to 25 mg/g, when the intercalated surfactants were decomposed. The reuse of these organoclays was limited to four regeneration recycles with a reduction of 20 to 30%. However, noticeable reduction between 35% to 50% of the initial efficiency, was achieved after the fifth cycle, depending of the used organoclays.