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Synthesis of Bentonite–Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite and Its Adsorption of Rhodamine Dye From Water

  • Research Article - Chemical Engineering
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Abstract

In this work, cheap and effective nanocomposite material has been synthesized by mixing natural bentonite (B) with 5 % multiwall carbon nanotubes followed by heat treatment to 650\({^{\circ}}\)C in the inert atmosphere. It makes a potentially attractive adsorbent of rhodamine dye (RhB) from wastewater. The nanocomposite adsorbent (BCA) was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effects of contact time, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration and pH on dye removal were investigated. The isotherm of dye adsorption was studied. The adsorption isotherm of dye onto B and BCA showed good fitting to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The maximum adsorption capacity \({({q}_{\rm m})}\) of B and BCA samples is 8.6 and 142.8 mg/g, respectively. Both bentonite and modified bentonite are capable of removing the RhB dye from water. In general, the nanocomposite sample BCA significantly enhances the removal of RhB dye from aqueous solution. In addition, the BCA could be used as an eco-friendly adsorbent to remove the dye from colored wastewater.

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Abbreviations

B:

Raw bentonite

BCA:

Bentonite carbon nanotubes (nanocomposite) adsorbent

RhB:

Rhodamine dye

CNTs:

Multiwall carbon nanotubes

FWHM:

Full width at half maximum

D :

The average crystallite size (nm)

\({\lambda}\) :

The wavelength of the X-ray radiation (nm)

K :

The Scherrer constant (\({k = 0.9}\))

\({\beta}\) :

The half maximum line breadth

\({\theta}\) :

The Bragg angle

m :

Mass of adsorbent (g/L)

q :

q (mg/g) is adsorption capacity or amount of adsorbate removed from aqueous solution at equilibrium

\({{C}_{{\rm e}}}\) :

Concentration of the adsorbate at equilibrium in the solution (mg/L)

\({{q}_{{\rm m}}}\) :

Maximum adsorption capacity (mg/g)

\({{K}_{{\rm L}}}\) :

Langmuir constant (L/g)

\({{K}_{{\rm F}}}\) :

Freundlich constant indicating the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent (mg/g)

n :

Experimental constant indicative of the adsorption intensity of the adsorbent

\({{C}_{0}}\) :

The initial concentration of the dye (mg/L)

RL:

Equilibrium parameter describing the type of Langmuir isotherm

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq

    Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed

  2. Chemical Engineering Department, University of Suleyman Demirel, Isparta, Turkey

    Sitki Baytak

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  1. Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed
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Correspondence to Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed.

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Mohammed, M.I., Baytak, S. Synthesis of Bentonite–Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite and Its Adsorption of Rhodamine Dye From Water. Arab J Sci Eng 41, 4775–4785 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-016-2190-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-016-2190-7

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