Synthesis and Application of Iron Oxide/Silica Gel Nanocomposite for Removal of Sulfur Dyes fromAqueous Solutions

Background & Aims of the Study: water pollution by synthetic organic dyes is mainlyregarded as environmental and ecological critical issues worldwide. In this research, magnetiteiron oxide/silica gel nanocomposite (termed as Fe3O4/SG) was synthesized chemically and thenused as an effective adsorbent for removal of sulfur dyes from aqueous solution.Materials and Methods: The various parameters such as pH, sorbent dosage, initial dyeconcentration, contact time and dye solution temperature were investigated in a batch system.The equilibrium data were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models.Results: The experimental data fit well with pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2≥0.998) andconformed better to Langmuir isotherm model (R2≥0.997). The maximum adsorption capacityfor Fe3O4/SG obtained from the Langmuir model was 11.1mg/g. Evaluation of thermodynamicparameters proved that the adsorption process was normally feasible, spontaneous andexothermic.Conclusion: It can be concluded that the Fe3O4/SG can be considered as a cost-effective and anenvironmental friendly adsorbent for efficient removal of sulfur dyes from aqueous solutions