Magnetite Fe3O4-activated carbon composite as adsorbent of rhodamine B dye

Abstract

Magnetite-Fe3O4 and activated carbon composite adsorbent was prepared by co-precipitation and used as an adsorbent for Rhodamine B dyes. Composite adsorbents were characterized by VSM, BET, XRD, SEM and FTIR techniques. Characterization of Fe3O4 magnetite activated carbon composite with VSM has a magnetic degree of 15.53 emu/mg. Measurement of surface area using BET obtained surface area of 520 m2/g, whereas XRD diffractogram showed a diffraction peak pattern at 20.2°; 30.2°; 35.5°; 43.2°; and 57°. The surface morphology of composite adsorbents with SEM is granular with magnetite coated by activated carbon. FTIR spectra show some functional groups that are on the surface of the composite such as hydroxyl, carboxyl and carbonyl groups. Adsorption of Rhodamine B dyes was obtained at pH 3 with an adsorption capacity of 0.71 mg/g, contact time of 150 minutes with an adsorption capacity of 0.72 mg/g, initial concentration of Rhodamine B was 25 mg/L with a maximum adsorption capacity of 2.19 mg/g.