Application of Carbon Salicylate@Alumina Nanocomposite for Removal of Organic and Inorganic Pollutants from Wastewater

Abstract

In this paper, a novel nanocomposite (carbonic salicylate @ aluminum oxide nanocomposite, AC-COO-Sal@Al2O3) and modifier carbon biosorbents were synthesized from low-cost raw materials (commercial activated carbon). Infrared spectra demonstrated the presence of several active groups in the material matrixes of nanocomposite and biosorbents. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the surfaces were in the form of crystals embedded into the amorphous structure. There is good thermal stability up to 800 °C and also in acidic and alkaline mediums. The modifier of the activated carbon (AC), carbonic acid (AC-COOH), carbonic salicylate (MAC-COO-Sal), and the nanocomposite were applied to remove the hazard species from wastewater. The different parameters (pH, time, concentration, and temperature) were applied to explain the removal process. The removal percentages and capacities were 97–100% and 166–266 mg/g with a relative standard deviation of 0.2–0.8% (n = 5). The lower detection limit of the tested dye was 0.6–1.9 μg/L which indicates the higher sensitivity detection of methylene blue in wastewater. Also, the method was successfully applied for the removal of free chlorine and metal ions from the contaminated water samples.