Performance evaluation and optimization of dyes removal using rice bran-based magnetic composite adsorbent

Abstract

Although several studies have explored green adsorbent synthesized from many types of agriculture waste, this study represents the first attempt to prepare an environmentally friendly rice bran/SnO2/Fe3O4-based absorbent with economic viability and material reusability, for the promotion of sustainable development. Here, rice bran/SnO2/Fe3O4 composites were successfully synthesized and applied for adsorption of reactive blue 4 (RB4) and crystal violet (CV) dyes in aqueous solutions. The adsorption data were well-fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The maximum adsorption capacities of the RB4 and CV dyes as indicated by the Langmuir isotherm model were 218.82 and 159.24 mg/g, respectively. As results of response surface methodology (RSM) showed, the quadratic model was appropriate to predict the performance of RB4 dye removal. The findings exhibited that an optimum removal rate of 98% was achieved at 60◦C for pH 2.93 and adsorption time of 360 min. Comparative evaluation of different agricultural wastes indicated that the rice bran/SnO2/Fe3O4 composite appeared to be a highly promising material in terms of regeneration and reusability, and showed that the composite is a potential adsorbent for dye removal from aqueous solutions. Overall, the study results clearly suggest that an adsorbent synthesized from rice bran/SnO2/Fe3O4 magnetic particle composites provides encouraging adsorption capacity for practical applications for environmental prevention.