Unique adsorption properties of malachite green on interlayer space of Cu-Al and Cu-Al-Siw12O40 Layered double hydroxides

Abstract

Cu-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) was intercalated with Keggin ion of polyoxometalate K4[α-SiW12O40] to form Cu-Al-SiW12O40 LDH. The obtained materials were analyzed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Brunaur-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. Furthermore, the materials were used as adsorbents of malachite green from aqueous solution. Some variables for adsorption, such as: effect of adsorption times, malachite green concentration, and also adsorption temperature, were explored. The results showed that diffraction at 11.72° on Cu-Al LDH has interlayer distance of 7.56 Å. The intercalation of that LDH with [α-SiW12O40]4− ion resulted increasing interlayer distance to 12.10 Å. The surface area of material was also increased after intercalation from 46.2 m2/g to 89.02 m2/g. The adsorption of malachite green on Cu-Al and Cu-Al-SiW12O40 LDHs followed pseudo second order kinetic and isotherm Langmuir model with adsorption capacity of Cu-Al and Cu-Al-SiW12O40 LDHs was 55.866 mg/g and 149.253 mg/g, respectively. That adsorption capacity is equal with increasing interlayer space and surface area properties of material after intercalation. Thus, the adsorption of malachite green on Cu-Al and Cu-Al-SiW12O40 LDHs is unique and dominantly occurred on interlayer space of LDH as active site adsorption.