Green Synthesis of Nano-Zero-Valent Iron Using Ricinus Communis Seeds Extract: Characterization and Application in the Treatment of Methylene Blue-Polluted Water

Abstract

In this study, the removal of methylene blue dye (MB) from aqueous solution was examined using a novel green adsorbent to overcome the obstacles encountered in chemical methods. Ricinus communis (RC) aqueous seeds extract was herein used as a reducing and capping agent to synthesize a novel nano-zero-valent iron (RC-nZVI) for the adsorption of harmful MB. Structural and morphological characterization of the synthesized RC-nZVI were performed using several techniques, e.g., steady-state absorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and zeta potential. The maximum efficiency of the removal was 96.8% at pH 6 and 25 °C. According to the kinetics study results, the adsorption process obeys the pseudo-first-order model. The experimental equilibrium data were fitted to the Freundlich isotherm model, the maximum adsorption capacity reached was 61.37 mg·g-1, and the equilibrium parameters were determined. The synthesized RC-nZVI possesses good reusability and can be considered as a potential economic and environmentally friendly adsorbent.