Fabrication of nano Delafossite LiCo0.5Fe0.5O2 as the new adsorbent in efficient removal of reactive blue 5 from aqueous solutions

In this paper, nanoparticles of delafossite-type LiCo0.5Fe0.5O2 were prepared by sol–gel method in the presence of maleic acid as a chelating agent. The nanoparticles were characterized using differential thermal analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. The nanoparticles showed the excellent adsorption properties towards reactive dye, reactive blue 5 (RB5). The adsorption studies were carried out at different pH values, various adsorbent dosages and contact time in a batch experiments. The kinetic studies indicate that the removal process obeys the second-order kinetic equation. Also, the isotherm evaluations reveal that the adsorption of RB5 by the nanoparticles follows the Freundlich model.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Fabrication of nano Delafossite LiCo0.5Fe0.5O2 by sol–gel method. ► Kinetic study of the adsorption properties. ► Removal of reactive blue 5 (RB5) as a reactive dye by the prepared new nanocatalyst.