Silica-Amorphous Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Induced Removal of Rhodamine B from Water

Abstract

Abstract Present work reports the synthesis of amorphous carbon nanotube-Silica (a-CNT-SiO2) hybrids by a simple cost friendly method. The as synthesized samples were characterized by instruments like XRD, FESEM, FTIR spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The XRD spectra confirm the proper phase formation of the sample whereas the FESEM micrographs reveal that the samples have been developed in the cluster form. FTIR spectra reveals that there are several absorption peaks present these are mainly assigned to the Si-Si, Si-O, Si-H, C-C, C=C, C=O, C-Hn or OH bonds. Raman spectra of the pure and hybrid samples have also been studied in detail. From the application point of view both the pure and hybrid samples have shown good efficacy in removing dyes like rhodamine B with efficiency over 90 % within just 45 minutes. Kinetic studies confirmed that the reaction mostly followed pseudo 1st order mechanism