Potential use of metaloxide nanomaterials for the removal of pollutants from aqueous solution
Abstract
Water pollution has emerged as most significant problem associated with environment and because of rapid and unsystematic industrialization it is increasing day by day. In the present study an attempt was made to remove some of the major pollutants from water that are being introduced in waterbody through various sources. Taking these factors in consideration a study was planned and performed in which various biogenically prepared adsorbents and metal oxide nanomaterials have been employed in aqueous system to remove the pollutants viz., Dyes [Congo Red (CR), Malachite Green (MG) and Rhodamine B (Rh B)], Heavy Metal [Hexavalent Chromium Cr (VI)] and Heavy metal as well as Radioactive pollutant [Hexavalent Uranium U(VI)]. The prepared adsorbents zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), zinc oxide loaded Eucalyptus nanomaterial (ZnOatEu), magnesium oxide loaded Eucalyptus nanomaterial (MgOatEu and MgO/Eu), magnesium oxide loaded sawdust nanomaterial (S-MgO) and sawdust were characterized using various characterization techniques such as Field Emission Scanning Electron Micrograph (FESEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer Emmett Teller and Barrett Joyner Halenda (BET-BJH), Point of zero charge pHpzc and Elemental mapping. The prepared nano-adsorbents were tested for their efficacy in removing various water pollutants. Dyes namely congo red and malachite green were removed from water using green fabricated ZnO-NPs. Maximum removal was achieved at pH 6.0 and pH 8.0 for congo red and malachite green dye, respectively. Dye adsorption process showed better fit with Langmuir and Temkin Isotherm models for congo red and malachite green dye respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of ZnO NPs was found 48.3 mg/g for congo red and 169.5 mg/g for malachite green. The dye adsorption followed pseudo-second order model and values of thermodynamic parameters confirmed