Removal of Reactive Red 120 Azo dye from Aqueous Solution with Magnetic Nanoparticles Coated with Chitosan

Abstract

In this research, the magnetic nanoparticles coated with chitosan have been used to remove the reactive red 120 azo dye from aqueous solution. Chitosan is one of the most well-known biopolymers that can be used as adsorbent for the removal of color contaminants. Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by simultaneous combination of FeCl3.6H2O and FeCl2.4H2O, and coated by chitosan polymer with low molecular weight. Then magnetic nanoparticles coated with chitosan were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared radiation (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). Moreover, the effects of three parameters: pH, initial color pollutant concentration and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption were studied. The maximum adsorption about 98.99 percent occurs at pH=4, 150 mg/l of the initial concentration of azo dye and adsorbent dosage of 6 g/l. Adsorption data were fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The results showed that the adsorption data on magnetic chitosan nanocomposite is more adapted with Freundlich model.

Keywords

• azo dye
• chitosan
• langmuir
• freundlich
• aqueous solution