Sustainable Chitosan Supported Magnetite Nanocomposites for Sequestration of Rhodamine B Dye from the Environment

Abstract

This study investigated the sustainable chitosan supported magnetite nanocomposites (C-Fe3O4) for sequestration of Rhodamine B (RhB) Dye from environment. The synthesis of C-Fe3O4, its physicochemical characterization and synergistic influence of initial concentration of the dye and time of contact with the adsorbent during the sorption of Rhodamine B (RhB) on C-Fe3O4 were studied. The physicochemical properties indicated better equilibration via bulk density of 0.731 g/cm3, moisture content 7.2, point of zero charge (PZC) of 4 indicated suitability for RhB. Functional group of C-Fe3O4 determined by FTIR revealed characteristics peaks at 3433 cm−1 and 698 – 478 cm−1 confirming the successful formation by incorporation of chitosan and magnetite nanoparticles. Synergistic influence of the time of contact and initial concentration of Rb dye influenced the dye sorption. Effective adsorption of RhB onto C-Fe3O4 was studied using batch adsorption techniques at initial concentration (200 – 1000 ppm), contact time (10 – 120 min), stirring speed (120 rpm), temperature of 25 °C and adsorbent dosage of 100 mg. Rapid adsorption of RhB onto C-Fe3O4 was obtained at 10 min with 96.9% removal efficiency at highest RhB concentration of 1000 ppm. The study revealed the efficacy of contact time and initial dye concentration as imperative operational parameters majorly influencing sorption study.