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Pd–Ni nanoparticles supported on activated carbon (Pd–Ni/AC) were prepared using a phase transfer method. The purpose of synthesizing ternary composites was to enhance the surface area of synthesized Pd–Ni nanoparticles, as they have a low surface area. The resulting composite was characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) for investigating its surface morphology, particle size, percentage of crystallinity and elemental composition, respectively. The XRD data and EDX analysis revealed the presence of Pd–Ni alloys impregnated on the AC. Pd–Ni/AC was used as an adsorbent for the removal of the azo dye basic blue 3 from an aqueous medium. Kinetic and isotherm models were used to calculate the adsorption parameters. The most suitable kinetic model amongst the applied models was the pseudo-second-order model, confirming the chemisorption characteristics of the process, and the most suitable isotherm model was the Langmuir model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 333 mg/g at 333 K. Different experimental parameters, such as the adsorbent dosage, pH, temperature and contact time, were optimized. The optimum parameters reached were: a pH of 12, temperature of 333 K, adsorbent dosage of 0.01 g and optimum contact time of 30 min. Moreover, the thermodynamics parameters of adsorption, such as Gibbs free energy (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°), showed the adsorption processes being exothermic with values of ΔH° equal to −6.206 kJ/mol and being spontaneous with ΔG° values of −13.297, −13.780 and −14.264 Kj/mol, respectively at 293, 313 and 333 K. An increase in entropy change (ΔS°) with a value of 0.0242 Kj/mol.K, indicated the enhanced disorder at a solid–solution interface during the adsorption process. Recycling the adsorbent for six cycles with sodium hydroxide and ethanol showed a decline in the efficiency of the selected azo dye basic blue 3 up to 79%. The prepared ternary composite was found effective in the removal of the selected dye. The removal of other pollutants represents one of the possible future uses of the prepared adsorbent, but further experiments are required.

The catalytic activity of Pd/ZrO2 was studied in terms of the degradation of rhodamine-B dye in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Pd/ZrO2 was prepared by impregnation method, calcined at 750 °C and characterized by XRD, SEM and EDX. The catalyst showed good catalytic activity for dye degradation at 333 K, using 0.05 g of the catalyst during 5 h. The reaction kinetics followed the pseudo-first order kinetics. The Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin isotherms were applied to the data and the best fit was obtained with Freundlich isotherm. Thermodynamic parameters, like ΔH, ΔG and ΔS were also calculated. The negative values of ΔH (−291.406 KJ/mol) and Gibbs free energy (ΔG) showed the exothermic and spontaneous nature of the process. The positive ΔS (0.04832 KJ/mol K) value showed suitable affinity of catalyst for dye degradation. The catalyst was very stable, active and was easily separated from the reaction mixture by filtration. It can be concluded from the results that the prepared catalyst could be effectively used in dyes degradation/removal from water subjected to further validation and use for various dyes.

Methyl red (MR) dye, one of the azo dyes, is mutagenic and its persistence has negative effects on the environment and people’s health. The current work is the first to demonstrate that methyl red dye can be removed effectively and sustainably, utilizing biomass derived from the bark of the Dodonaea viscosa (Hopbush) plant. The Hopbush bark shows effective adsorption of MR, upto 73%, under optimized conditions in an aqueous medium. The experimental conditions were optimized by examining the effect of time, initial dye concentration, pH and ionic strength on the adsorption process in an aqueous medium. Maximum (i.e., 73%) adsorption of MR removal (500 ppm) was observed in highly acidic conditions (pH = 1) at a contact time of 75 min. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich adsorption isotherm appeared to be the most appropriate for characterizing the MR’s adsorption onto the bark of the D. viscosa plant. Furthermore, it was shown that bark powder outperformed animal charcoal, silica gel, and powdered flowers, as well as the leaves of the same species, in terms of adsorption capacity. Thus, a natural adsorbent that is inexpensive and readily available—the bark of the D. viscosa plant—can be used to effectively remove harmful dyes from contaminated water and protect water resources from harmful pollutants.

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