Synthesis, Characterisations, Adsorptive Performances and Photo-catalytic Activity of Fe3O4-SiO2 Based Nanosorbent (Fe3O4-SiO2 BN)

In the present study, we have synthesised and characterised Fe3O4-SiO2 based nanosorbent (Fe3O4-SiO2 BN) using FESEM, EDX, FTIR and powder XRD methods. Synthesised Fe3O4-SiO2 BN was utilised in the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. Optimum conditions for the adsorption of MB by the nanosorbent were found to be 60 min, pH 8 and 1 g dosage of the Fe3O4-SiO2 BN. The equilibrium data of adsorption have been tested with different isotherm and kinetic models and their parameters evaluated. Langmuir isotherm model was best fitted to equilibrium data of adsorption of MB onto Fe3O4-SiO2 BN as compared to Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. Langmuir equilibrium constant and theoretical mono saturation capacity have been evaluated as 10.277 L/g and 0.0482, respectively. The rate constant (k2) of adsorption of MB on Fe3O4-SiO2 BN was found as to be 11.049 g/mg min from pseudo second order kinetic model. The photo-catalytic activity of magnetised Fe3O4-SiO2 BN has also been carried out in the presence of electromagnetic radiation and maximum MB degraded as 97.35% after irradiation time 140 min.