Efficient Disposal of Basic Fuchsin Dye from Aqueous Media Using ZrO2/MgMn2O4/Mg(Mg0.333Mn1.333)O4 as a Novel and Facilely Synthesized Nanocomposite

Abstract

In this work, amorphous and crystalline novel products based on Zr, Mg, and Mn were facilely fabricated through the Pechini sol–gel procedure using inexpensive chemicals and an uncomplicated apparatus. Also, these products showed high efficiency as novel adsorbents in getting rid of basic fuchsin dye from aqueous solutions. The adsorbent, which was fabricated before calcination, was abbreviated as KE. In addition, the adsorbents, which were created at 500 and 700 °C, were designated as KE500 and KE700, respectively. The created adsorbents were characterized using high-level transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), N2 adsorption/desorption analyzer, and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The XRD showed that the KE adsorbent is amorphous, whereas the KE500 and KE700 adsorbents are mixtures of ZrO2, MgMn2O4, and Mg(Mg0.333Mn1.333)O4 nanostructures. The HR-TEM exhibited that the KE adsorbent consists of very fine irregular shapes, whereas the KE500 adsorbent contains quasi-spherical particles with a mean diameter of 45.16 nm. Furthermore, the HR-TEM exhibited that the KE700 adsorbent consists of polyhedral shapes with a mean diameter of 76.28 nm. Furthermore, the BET surface area of the KE, KE500, and KE700 adsorbents is 67.85, 20.15, and 13.60 m2/g, respectively. Additionally, the elimination of basic fuchsin dye by the KE, KE500, and KE700 adsorbents is exothermic, physical in nature, and follows the pseudo-first-order as well as Langmuir equations. Further, the maximum uptake capabilities of the KE, KE500, and KE700 adsorbents toward basic fuchsin dye are 239.81, 174.83, and 93.19 mg/g, respectively.