Silvernano Particle Loaded on Activated Carbon as Novel Adsorbent for the Removal of Acid Yellow 199 Dye

Abstract

In this study, a new adsorbent, silver nanoparticle loaded on activated carbon (Ag˗NP˗AC) was usedfor removal of acid yellow199 (AY 199) dye. This novel material was characterized and identified by differenttechniques such as Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET), field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Unique properties of this adsorbent such as high surface area(>1100 m2g-1) and low pore size (<47 A˚) and average particle size lower than 60 A˚ make it possible forefficient removal of Ay199. In batch experimental set-up, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, contacttime and pH were investigated. Optimum values were set as pH of 3.0, 0.03g/50mL of adsorbent for initial dyeconcentration of 15 mgL-1 at 40 min and 25 ±1 ºC. The adsorption of Ay199 follows the pseudo-second-orderrate equation in addition to interparticle diffusion model (with removal more than 90%) at all conditions.Equilibrium data fitted well with the Langmuir model, while maximum adsorption capacity was 30 mg g-1 for0.03 g/50mL of Ag˗NP˗AC. Calculation of various thermodynamic parameters such as, Gibb’s free energy,entropy and enthalpy of the on-going adsorption process also indicated feasibility and endothermic nature ofAY 199 adsorption onto Ag˗NP˗AC.