The present study
is focused on the synthesis of prominent magnetic
graphene oxide/chitin nanocomposites, which behaves as an adsorbent
for organic dyes under visible light. The nanocomposites were characterized
using physicochemical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, vibrating-sample
magnetometer, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron
microscopy. A band gap energy of 2.01 eV was evaluated from Tauc and
Davis–Mott plots. Batch adsorption studies were performed on
crystal violet and methylene blue dyes with varying parameters such
as time, pH, concentration, dosage, and temperature, which resulted
to excellent adsorption activities of 403.78 mg/g for crystal violet
and 332.61 mg/g for methylene blue. The as-synthesized nanocomposite
showed excellent recovery capability, retaining its adsorption efficiency
even after nine cycles of regeneration. The adsorption equilibrium
data fitted well into the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm
model, while the spontaneity and exothermic nature of the adsorption
phenomenon are demonstrated by thermodynamic studies. A comparative
adsorption study results to a selective adsorption of cationic dyes
over anionic ones, which goes in conformity with the high negative
value of zeta potential obtained at neutral pH.