Efficiency of the activated carbon and clinoptilolite particles coated with iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles in removal of methylene blue

Abstract

Due to the toxicity, carcinogenicity and low biodegradability of organic dyes, removing them from wastewaters is essential. In this respect, this study synthesized the iron oxide coated activated carbon and zeolite (clinoptilolite) adsorbents. Two adsorbents were applied to remove methylene blue and the corresponding parameters, including solution pH, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration, and contact time, were optimized. According to the findings, the optimal contact time for the clinoptilolite and activated carbon magnetic nanoparticles was, respectively, 45 and 30 min. Meanwhile, pH did not significantly affect the adsorption process though changing pH from 7 to 9 which reduced the adsorption efficiency of the clinoptilolite magnetic nanoparticles from 98.6% to 96%. The prepared activated carbon and clinoptilolite adsorbents were so efficient that they remove 99% and 98.3% of the methylene blue from 100 ppm dye solutions, at pH 7. In general, the results demonstrated that coating the activated carbon and clinoptilolite particles with the Fe2O3 nanoparticles was effective in enhancing their efficiency of methylene blue removal from aqueous solutions within short times.