Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (Nov 2023)
Comparison of the Efficiency of Synthesized Magnesium Oxide (MgO) Nanoparticles and Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) for the Adsorption of Acid Red 18 Dye from Aqueous Solutions
Abstract
Background and purpose: Textile industries play a vital role in the economy of any country, and the management of their effluent is crucial for environmental sustainability. The use of various dyes during the production process results in highly colored wastewater that requires treatment before discharging into the environment. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the adsorption process as one of the best and simplest methods for the removal of Acid Red 18 (AR-18) dye from aqueous environments. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, we focused on the synthesis and characterization of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles. Then, the efficiency of this adsorbent was investigated for the adsorption of AR-18 dye from aqueous solutions, and then its removal efficiency was compared with powdered activated carbon (PAC). The research involved evaluating the impacts of various variables such as solution pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and initial dye concentration on the adsorption process. Non-linear analysis using OriginPro 18 software was used to model adsorption kinetics and isotherms data. Results: The results of the study indicated that the solution pH had a negligible impact on the removal of AR-18 dye within the investigated concentration range. However, for PAC adsorbent, increasing the contact time and adsorbent dosage resulted in higher removal efficiency of the dye, and equilibrium was reached after 120 minutes. The general order kinetic model and Liu isotherm model well described the experimental data. Conclusion: Based on the results of the study, it was found that magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles were not effective as an adsorbent for the removal of AR-18 dye and exhibited low adsorption efficiency. On the other hand, powdered activated carbon (PAC) demonstrated a significantly higher adsorption efficiency and can be considered as an effective adsorbent for the removal of AR-18 dye from aqueous solutions.
