Removal of congo red from water using quercetin modified α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles as effective nanoadsorbent

• Quercetin modified α-Fe2O3 (Qur-Fe2O3) was used as adsorbent.
• Adsorption studies were performed for the removal of congo red dye.
• The adsorption reaction parameters were investigated in detail.
• The adsorption capacity of Qur-Fe2O3 was higher than that of Fe2O3.

In the present investigation, Quercetin modified α-Fe2O3 nanoadsorbent (Qur-Fe2O3) is synthesized by a simple chemical impregnation method, followed by characterization and evaluated for the removal of congo red dye (CR) from the aqueous solution. The adsorption of CR onto the novel Qur-Fe2O3 is investigated with variable parameters such as contact time, initial concentration of CR, adsorbent dosage and pH of solution using batch adsorption technique. It is found that the adsorption of CR on Qur-Fe2O3 is rapid during the initial stages and reached a steady-state condition with an uptake of approximately 95.4% after 140 min. Langmuir and the Freundlich adsorption isotherms are used to observe and quantify the interaction of CR and Qur-Fe2O3. Dye adsorption equilibrium data are well-fit with Langmuir isotherm rather than Freundlich isotherm. The maximum monolayer dye adsorption capacity at the optimum pH 5.4 by applying the Langmuir equation is 427.35 mg g−1 at 25 °C for Qur-Fe2O3. Thermodynamic examination demonstrated that CR adsorption on the Qur-Fe2O3 nanoadsorbent was reasonably spontaneous and endothermic. A comparison of kinetic models showed that the overall adsorption process is described in well manner by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The intraparticle diffusion model described that the rate-limiting step is not the diffusion of intraparticle alone. Moreover, the adsorption capacity is about 81.64% of the initial saturation adsorption capacity after being used four times. Thus, Qur-Fe2O3 nanoparticles are good candidate for efficient CR removal process from wastewater and for the deep-purification of polluted water.

The photographs for colour changes in Congo red (35 mg L−1) dye in the presence of Qur – Fe2O3 adsorbent at different time intervals.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide