Study of the methylene blue adsorption mechanism using ZrO2/Polyaniline nanocomposite

Abstract

Abstract ZrO2 (Zirconia) nanoparticles (NPs), PANI (polyaniline), and ZrO2/PANI nanocomposites (NCs) were successfully synthesized using CTAB (Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide) and SDS (Sodium dodecyl sulfate) surfactants by following the co-precipitation method. The structural phase analysis of as-prepared, annealed nanoparticles, and nanocomposites was done using the XRD (x-ray diffraction) technique. The crystallite size of pure SDS and CTAB assisted ZrO2 NPS comes out to be 19 and 17 nm, respectively. After the formation of NCs, the size has been reduced to 15.7 and 15.9 nm, respectively for the same samples. The effect of surfactants on the dye adsorption mechanism was studied using XRD and UV–vis spectroscopy. The prepared NPs and NCs were utilized as an adsorbent for the removal of organic dye methylene blue (MB) which is used as a model compound. UV–vis spectra of the supernatant solution were taken and studied to detect the relative decrease in the dye concentration with time. The as-prepared CTAB assisted ZrO2/PANI NCs show higher adsorption activity than annealed CTAB assisted ZrO2/PANI whereas a reversal trend in the adsorption activity was observed for SDS-assisted ZrO2/PANI NCs. Various kinetic models were implemented and correlated to the experimental data to elucidate the working mechanism for dye adsorption and to set up, a relation in the adsorption activity of surfactant modified NPs and NCs.