Synthesis of Magnesium Silicate Hydrate as an Adsorbent for Different Dyes

Abstract

Magnesium silicate hydrate was synthesized for using as an adsorbent for different commercial organic dyes. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the crystalline phase of magnesium silicate hydrate. Some characteristic absorption bands of the magnesium silicate hydrate structure were observed in the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrum which supported the result identified from XRD data. Analysis of surface area and porosity by surface area analyzer showed that the synthesized magnesium silicate had high surface area of 634.63 m2/g and also showed the average BJH pore size of 3.72 nm. Insight into the sorption isotherm curve, the hysteresis characteristic was clearly observed suggesting a presence of mesopores within the obtained material. Dye adsorption study revealed that the synthesized adsorbent had the strongest affinity to the cationic dye (methylene blue) on account of the negative charge on the surface of the adsorbent. Hence, the adsorption of methylene blue was reached the equilibrium at the fastest time. In all, the results showed a possibility to apply this prepared magnesium silicate materials as a selective adsorbent for cationic dyes.