Fabrication of Nanocellulose/Chitosan Nanocomposite Based on Loofah Sponge for Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Investigations

Abstract

We established three nano-solid adsorbents: nanocellulose based on plant loofah sponge (NC), chitosan (CS), and nanocellulose/chitosan composite (CSC). These substances were employed as solid adsorbents to eliminate methylene blue (MB) dye from wastewater. Various characterization techniques were employed to investigate all the synthesized solid adsorbents, including TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), XRD (X-ray diffraction spectra), (BET) nitrogen gas adsorption-desorption, SEM (scanning electron microscope), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectrometer, and zeta potential. According to our results, CSC showed greater thermal stability than LS and NC but lower than CS, mesoporous (2.012 nm), higher total pore volume (0.366 cm3. g− 1), specific surface area (639.3 m2. g− 1), and pHpzc of 7.22. The static adsorption of MB was well described by the Langmuir (R2 > 0.9872), Temkin (R2 > 0.9668), and Dubinin-Radushkevich (R2 > 0.9485) models. The composite of nanocellulose and chitosan exhibited the highest Langmuir adsorption capacity (301.20 mg. g− 1) at 47 °C after a 24 h shaking period at a dosage of 2 g. L− 1 as the adsorbent and pH of 7. The adsorption of MB by the fabricated solid materials fitted well with the linear PSO (R2 > 0.9806) and Elovich (R2 > 0.9574) kinetic model. The enthalpy, entropy, and free energy change for the adsorption of MB onto CSC were determined to be 47.11 kJ. mol− 1, 0.172 kJ. mol− 1. K− 1, and − 3.29 kJ. mol− 1, respectively at 20 °C. Thermodynamic investigation showed that MB adsorption is spontaneous, endothermic, favorable (0 < RL<1, 0.017–0.313), and physisorption (EDR < 8 kJ. mol− 1). Compared to the other eluents, nitric acid produced the highest desorption percentage (98.5%).