Biomorphic CuO‐Al2O3 nanomaterials were fabricated via a facile and low‐cost complex‐precipitation route using cotton as a template. The as‐obtained materials were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption‐desorption analysis, and thermogravimetry differential thermal analysis (TG‐DTA). It was found that the as‐prepared biomorphic CuO‐Al2O3 retained the tubular morphology of cotton and a diameter of about 4–5 µm. The maximum adsorption capacity for methyl blue (MB) was achieved at 97.04 mg/g which is higher than that of many other previously reported adsorbents, and that of as‐prepared CuO‐Al2O3 without a cotton template. Furthermore, the isotherms and kinetics of the adsorption process for MB were determined and analyzed in detail, and were found to obey the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo‐second‐order kinetics. The as‐prepared biomorphic CuO‐Al2O3 sample using this facile synthetic approach is very promising for the removal of organic contaminants from wastewater.
Biomorphic Ni-Al layered double-hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets with 3D hierarchical structures were synthesized with cotton from discarded T-shirt as templates. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction. Adsorption of Congo red (CR) by calcined Ni-Al layered double hydroxides (CLDH) from aqueous solution was investigated in detail. Different conditions were evaluated, including solution pH, amount of adsorbent, initial CR concentration, contact time, and temperature. The adsorption kinetics and equilibrium isotherms of the CLDH were studied by use of pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, and the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms. Equilibrium isotherms of uptake of CR by CLDH were a good fit to the Freundlich equation, and the adsorption kinetics of CR followed a pseudo-secondorder kinetic model. These results suggest that CLDH may be effective adsorbents for the removal of anionic dyes from wastewater.
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