Preparation and Study of The Properties of Sodium Alginate-Coated Nanoscale Montmorillonite Clay for The Removal of Organic Dyes

Ayman Ali  Hussen

doi:10.51699/cajotas.v7i1.1636

Ayman Ali Hussen Maragheh University, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51699/cajotas.v7i1.1636

Keywords: Montmorillonite, sodium alginate, nanocomposite, adsorption of pollutants, treatment of contaminated water

Abstract

The presence of organic dyes in industrial wastewaters is crucial worldwide, especially dye wastewater from textile, leather and paper industries, as these dyes are often toxic and/or carcinogenic, and thus, their removal or decolorization are necessary. The use of adsorption has become a suitable, efficient, and green technology for the removal of organic dyes from wastewater, especially using nanocomposite materials. Montmorillonite (MMT), a widespread natural clay, is a potential candidate that possesses high surface area and cation-exchange capacity properties but suffers from agglomeration and poor mechanical stability in an aqueous medium. Nanocomposites relying on MMT as well as natural biopolymers such as sodium alginate (SA) have exhibited potency; however, the encapsulation mechanisms and surface interactions are still unexplored and have not been correlated with their removal efficacy of these dyes. In this study, Na+-montormillonite (MMT)/sodium alginate (SA) nanocomposite was prepared and characterized to produce an adsorbent material that offers higher adsorption capacities and stability and efficiency towards organic dyes at a wide range of operational conditions. Under optimal conditions (pH=8.5), the MMT/SA composite had a maximum dye removal efficiency of 98.1% and achieved a maximum adsorption capacity of 155.8 mg/g, following pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models and indicating that the rate-limiting step was chemisorption. Abstract: This work presents a green and highly effective adsorbent for wastewater treatment, as the results reveal substantial quality enhancement of the mechanical and chemical properties of MMT due to the encapsulation of sodium alginate (SA). Results demonstrate that the MMT/SA composite provides a low-cost approach for developing a great scale adsorption technology, exhibiting good operational stability across a large number of cycles of reuse and satisfying international sustainable practice on wastewater treatment.

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