Cornstalk-based manganese dioxide nanoparticles for methylene blue decontamination

Abstract

Cornstalk-based MnO2 nanoparticles (MnO2 NPs) were synthesized from KMnO4 through an in situ redox reaction. The synthesis was performed under an open system and did not need complicated apparatus, giving its advantages of easy operation, low cost and green synthesis. Combining the adsorption capacity with oxidation activity, the as-prepared cornstalk-based MnO2 NPs were applied to methylene blue (MB) decontamination. It was demonstrated that the removal efficiency was 79.88% in 60[Formula: see text]min by adsorption in water and reached up to 95.16% in pH [Formula: see text] 3 buffer with the help of oxidation. Most importantly, the decontamination materials could be separated simply by taking them out from MB solutions during the monitoring process or after treatment, avoiding the fussy centrifugation or filtration. This advantage endows the cornstalk-based MnO2 NPs superiority and would raise concerns in water decontamination.