Synthesis and Characterization of Dual-Ion-Crosslinked Magnetic Sodium Alginate-Based Fe-SA-Y@Fe3O4 Biogel Composite with Ultrastrong Performance for Azo Dye Removal
Abstract Magnetic sodium alginate(SA)-based biogel composite Fe-SA-Y@Fe3O4 macroparticles were polymerized by co-crosslinking of yttrium(III) and iron(III) ions according to the optimized preparation conditions and characterized by various modern analytical techniques. The results show that the biogel beads have unique cauliflower-shaped surface and sensitive magnetic response. Fe-SA-Y@Fe3O4 composite was used for the removal of Direct Red 13 (DR 13) and Direct Black 19 (DB 19) dyes from water. The adsorption capacities and removal efficiency can reach 2487 mg/g and 99.5% for DR-13 and 2992 mg/g and 99.7% for DB-19 respectively within the equilibrium time of 60 min at 298K and pH 2.0, and decrease slightly with pH up to 10.0. The kinetic and equilibrium adsorption data followed the Pseudo-second-order rate model and Langmuir isothermal model well, respectively. Electrostatic adsorption, various H-bonding and complexation were largely involved in dye adsorption processes with spontaneous and exothermic character by the biogel beads, which were explained by thermodynamic studies, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. Fe-SA-Y@Fe3O4 gel composite with ultrahigh adsorption capacity and fast magnetic separation property will be a promising eco-friendly bio-based adsorbent for the superefficient purification of practical azo-dye effluents.