Fabrication of Cationic Surfactant (Conventional/Gemini) Functionalized Gr@ZrO₂ Nanocomposite with Faster Adsorbability of an Anionic Azo Dye from Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Graphene zirconium oxide nanocomposite (Gr@ZrO2‐NC) has been functionalized with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB or CT) or butanediyl‐1,4, bis (N, N‐hexadecyl ammonium) dibromide (cationic gemini surfactant (CGS)). Structural, morphological, optical and thermal properties of synthesized adsorbents (Gr@ZrO2‐NC, CT‐Gr@ZrO2‐NC and CGS‐Gr@ZrO2‐NC) are investigated using XRD, FTIR, electron microscopy and TGA. CGS‐Gr@ZrO2‐NC showed faster removal efficacy (90 % within the first 25 min) for anionic azo dyes (methyl orange, MO and Congo red, CR) compared to other adsorbents. This effect may be due to the creation of stronger hydrophobic region at the surface of adsorbent with CGS. Effects of concentration, contact time and pH were also seen. The adsorption efficacy remained better even in the simultaneous presence of MO and CR. Adsorption data with time showed that the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model has been obeyed. Adsorbents were regenerated successfully with ethylene glycol (∼83 %).

Carbon‐ZnO Composite Synthesized from ZIF‐8 Depositing Vegetable Biomass for Efficient Removal of Phosphate from Aqueous Solution

“…This inferred the phosphate adsorption process onto Cc-ZnO and Ra-ZnO may be mainly controlled by chemisorption and the adsorptive behavior might incorporate the valency forces through sharing electrons between phosphate ions and composite. [25][26][27] The kinetic models mentioned above could not explain the diffusion mechanism well, then the intra-particle diffusion model (3) was used to further explain the role of diffusion in the phosphate adsorption.…”

A sustainable approach for the adsorption of methylene blue from an aqueous background: an adsorbent based on DES/CGS modified GO@ZrO2

“…34 Currently, NCs are modied with a variety of compounds/mixtures (synthetic and natural polymers and surfactants) owing to their eld of application. [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] In the above context, surfactants are preferred as modication agents due to their simple synthesis process, improved crystallinity/thermal stability, prevention of agglomeration, and the increased surface area and controlled porosity of the resulting modied material. [42][43][44][45][46][47] Cationic surfactants have found use as preferred modiers in comparison to other charge type ones.…”

“…34 Currently, NCs are modified with a variety of compounds/mixtures (synthetic and natural polymers and surfactants) owing to their field of application. 34–41…”

“…The utilization of CGS modified nanocomposites, based on metal oxide and GO, has been reported only a few times. 40,66…”

“…Moreover, another similar composite has been synthesised and modified with CGS using a method reported elsewhere. 40 Methylene blue (MB) is used as a model dye for the adsorption/kinetic study. Butanediyl-1,4, bis( N , N -hexadecyl ammonium) dibromide (16-4-16) and reline are used as the CGS and DES, respectively, for the current study.…”