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Soxhlet Extraction of Neem Pigment to Synthesize Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Its Catalytic and Adsorption Activity for Methylene Blue Removal

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Abstract

Green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles is gaining importance recently due to its cost-effectivity and ecofriendly treatment technique. The aim of the present study is to concentrate neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf pigment using Soxhlet extraction and to synthesize iron oxide nanoparticles and to check its efficacy in degrading methylene blue dye in aqueous solution. Characterization of the synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles is carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) analysis. The characterization results confirm the formation of iron oxide (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles. Obtained nanoparticles were evaluated for degradation and adsorption of methylene blue (MB) dye. It enhanced the degradation of methylene blue dye to 95.93% in the presence of 0.1 (N) sodium hydroxide solution (82.69% in the absence of α-Fe2O3). The maximum uptake capacity of MB was increased from 64.1 to 99.0 mg/g using native calcium alginate hydrogel and calcium alginate impregnated with produced iron oxide nanoparticle composite hydrogel, respectively. Thus, extraction of pigment from neem leaves and synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles showed satisfactory results.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the PIRC at the Petroleum Institute for funding this project (LTR14013) and for the SEM and VSM analysis provided by the Masdar Institute of Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Special thanks go to Anjali A. Edathil for carrying out final experimental studies.

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  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, The Petroleum Institute, P.O. Box 2533, Um Al Naar, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Priyabrata Pal, Salma S. Syed & Fawzi Banat

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  1. Priyabrata Pal
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  2. Salma S. Syed
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  3. Fawzi Banat
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Correspondence to Priyabrata Pal.

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Pal, P., Syed, S.S. & Banat, F. Soxhlet Extraction of Neem Pigment to Synthesize Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Its Catalytic and Adsorption Activity for Methylene Blue Removal. BioNanoSci. 7, 546–553 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12668-017-0420-4

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