Journal of Nanomaterials
Volume 2016 (2016), Article ID 6304096, 10 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6304096

Research Article

Comparison of Acid Red 114 Dye Adsorption by Fe₃O₄ and Fe₃O₄ Impregnated Rice Husk Ash

Gul Kaykioglu and Elcin Gunes

Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Corlu Engineering, Namik Kemal University, Corlu, 59860 Tekirdag, Turkey

Received 29 April 2016; Revised 17 June 2016; Accepted 21 July 2016

Academic Editor: Xingmao Ma

Copyright © 2016 Gul Kaykioglu and Elcin Gunes. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

The removal of Acid Red 114 (AR114) dye by adsorption process, using the magnetic nanoparticle (RHA-MNP) which is produced from rice husk ash burned at 300°C and the magnetic nanoparticle (MNP, Fe₃O₄), was studied. Batch processes were used under different test parameters: pH (2, 4, 6, and 10) and without pH, initial dye concentration (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg/L), and contact time (0, 1, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 150 min). Optimum conditions for AR114 removal were found to be at natural pH (pH without correction) for both adsorbents. Freundlich isotherm was found to be more consistent for MNP and Langmuir isotherm was found to be more consistent for RHA-MNP. The maximum adsorption capacities of MNP and RHA-MNP adsorbents for AR114 dye were equal to 111 mg/g. The kinetic experimental data fitted the pseudo-second-order model for both MNP and RHA-MNP. It can be concluded that RHA-MNP which is a waste could be used as low-cost adsorbent to remove AR114 from aqueous solution.

1. Introduction

Dyes are widely used in textile, plastic, food, cosmetics, paper, and carpet industries. The existence of dyes in the wastewater creates significant environmental problems. Dyes resist biodegradation with biological treatment. Coagulation-flocculation which includes chemical and physical methods, advanced oxidation processes like Fenton process (H₂O₂ + Fe⁺²), membrane processes, and electrochemical methods are effective in the removal of dyes. However, these processes have some disadvantages such as being expensive and producing excessive amount of sludge. Most of the existing processes are adsorption processes, and generally activated carbon (AC) is used as the adsorbent in these processes [1]. Some researchers have investigated the usage of the agricultural wastes as the raw materials to produce activated carbon, which has a high adsorption capacity. In Turkey, the annual average production amount of rice is 700,000 tons. Disposal of rice husks is done in landfill sites, which causes an aesthetic pollution, eutrophication, and problems in aquatic life. Rice husks do not dissolve in water. They show silica-cellulose, ligneous, and corrosive characteristics. The most important materials that compose the internal structure of the rice husk are cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, hydrated silica, and the ash content [2]. The adsorbent, which is obtained from rice husk, can be a good alternative for the activated carbon applications [1–8].

Magnetic nanoparticles can also be used in adsorption process as adsorbent. The features of the nanoparticles, whose sizes are less than 100 nm, are far more favorable than the features of the materials that have higher volumes. By the recent improvements in nanotechnology, the types of nanoparticles are synthesized successfully and gained attention to solve some of the environmental problems (acceleration of the coagulation of sludge, adsorption of radio nucleotides and organic dyes, and remediation of contaminated soil). Magnetic nanoparticles have large surface areas, highly magnetic characteristics, and high removal efficiencies. In addition, they have an advantage as the speedy and easy removal of the adsorbent from the solution (by the help of magnetic field). Also, compounds can be removed from the magnetic particles and can be reused [9–11]. There are some studies (AC/TiO₂, GAC/ZrO₂, TiO₂/sepiolite, and chitosan/ZnO) which prove that nanotechnological applications improved the adsorbent feature of the adsorbents, which are prepared in order to be used in adsorption practices [12–15]. Generally, it is difficult to use the adsorbents in the systems, which are constantly in flow, due to their small particle diameters. Various studies have used the adsorbents in adsorption applications by combining them with iron oxide. Wang et al. (2011) [16] developed an adsorbent (bamboo ash used as a support material for iron) by using microwave. The low-cost, composite material that is obtained from Fe₂(SO₄)₃ and H₂SO₄ was used for the removal of Cr. BET specific surface area, total pore volume, and the average diameter of mesoporous of adsorbent are recorded and it was observed that all of them were decreased after the formation with iron. Absalan et al. (2011) [17] studied the removal of Ni(II) from the aqueous solutions by the adsorbents that are produced from the tea wastes, which are agricultural biomasses, and transformed into nanoparticles. Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) are produced from the chemical precipitation of Fe⁺² and Fe⁺³ in an ammoniac solution. It was observed that when the concentration of Ni solution increased from 50 mg/L to 100 mg/L, the efficiency of the removal decreased from 99% to 87%. As a result of the study, the magnetic particles produced from tea wastes are efficient to remove the metals. Gupta and Nayak (2012) [18] produced a magnetic nanoparticle (MNP-OPP) by applying Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles together with the orange peel powder (OPP), which is an agricultural waste. The physicochemical features for metal binding capacity of the obtained magnetic adsorbent were observed. MNP-OPP is found to be more efficient to use rather than the application of MNP and OPP separately. Study has shown that the removal of cadmium (from simulated electronic industry wastewater) is 82%. As a result of the study, the feasibility of MNP-OPP has shown that it can easily be synthesized. Also, it is economic, environment friendly, and recyclable, and it can be used as an advanced adsorbent in order to prevent environment related problems. Do et al. (2011) [19] studied the adsorption performance of active carbon/composite Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles observed for methyl orange. It was stated that composites have large specific surface area, porosity, and good magnetic features.

In industrial districts of Turkey, aquatic life has been damaged and visual pollution has increased because of discharging colored effluents to surface waters. So color parameter has been added to Water Pollution Control Regulations and the necessity of putting an emphasis to the studies related to the removal of color has become evident. In Turkey, there is a need for doing a research related to the removal of the dyes from wastewater of textile industries especially after the addition of color parameter into discharge limits. According to the literature research, adsorption studies that have been done with magnetic nanoparticles are mostly on the removal of metals. Also, a study related to the removal of the color with magnetic nanoparticles that is obtained by the usage of rice husk ash as a support material is not found. In this study, the adsorption process in order to achieve the removal of the color of the aqueous solution prepared with the Acid Red 114 dye, widely used in textile industry, by the usage of magnetic nanoparticle (MNP, Fe₃O₄) and magnetic nanoparticle impregnated rice husk ash burned at 300°C (RHA-MNP) was studied.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Preparation of Adsorbents

The rice husk used in this study was obtained from a rice processing factory in the district of Uzunköprü, Edirne, Turkey. Raw rice husks were washed with a stream of distilled water to remove dirt, dust, and superficial impurities and then dried in an oven at 105°C for 24 h. Rice husks were carbonized in air in a muffle furnace (NÜVE MF120) at 300°C for 45 min (RHA) and cooled to room temperature.

6.1 grams of FeCl₃·6H₂O and 4.2 grams of FeSO₄·7H₂O were dissolved in 100 mL of water and heated up to 90°C. 10 mL 26% of ammonium hydroxide and the solution of 1 gram of rice husk ash (RHA) in 200 mL of water were added to each other quickly. pH was fixed to 10. The mixture was mixed for 30 minutes at 80°C and cooled down to room temperature. The obtained magnetic nanoparticle (RHA-MNP) was left for the settlement for 1-2 minutes and then washed with 100 mL of distilled water for 3 times. After that, the solution, the supernatant of which is filtered and separated, is dried at 50°C [18]. MNP was prepared by the same procedure, but RHA was not added.

2.2. Adsorbate and Batch Adsorption Studies

The adsorbate AR114 was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich. Physical and chemical features of Acid Red 114 are given in Table 1. The chemical structure of the dye AR114 is shown in Figure 1 [20]. 200 mg/L of stock solution was prepared to be used in adsorption applications. Solutions of the required concentrations (20–100 mg/L) were prepared by successive dilution of this stock solution.

Table 1: Physical and chemical features of AR 144.

Commercial name
Acid Red 114

Molecular formula
C₃₇H₂₈N₄O₁₀S₃Na₂

Purity
80%

Chromophore
Diazo

Molecular weight
830

(nm)
522

View
Dark red powder

Figure 1: Chemical formula of Acid Red 114 dye.

Adsorption studies were carried out at various initial concentrations (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg/L) and different pH conditions (without pH correction and pH values 2, 4, 6, and 10). Sampling intervals were set as 0, 1, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 150 minutes. pH adjustment was done with 0.1 N HCl and 0.1 N NaOH. After adsorption studies MNP and RHA-MNP were removed from the solution using a magnet. Although high removal efficiency of magnet is performed, centrifuge (CN180 Nüvefuge) is also applied at 3,500 rpm for 5 min. The color measurement was done using a calibration curve prepared at the corresponding maximum wavelength of 522 nm in spectrophotometer (Thermospectronic AquaMate Spectrometer).

2.3. Analysis

The examination of the adsorbents by scanning electron microscope (SEM) was done with the model device FEI Quanta FEG 250. The samples were examined without a preliminary preparation with the low vacuum detector (LFD) in low vacuum mode (20–80 Pascals), without coating with metals in different augmentations.

For the element analysis of the adsorbents, a device called Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) from the brand named as Spectro was used. A microwave assisted digestion procedure was carried out with HNO₃/HCl mixture according to EPA 3051 A. 0.5 g sample was weighed out in the reaction vessel. 9 mL of HNO3 and 3 mL HCl were then added to each vessel. Vessels were placed in the rotor and placed in the microwave. The vessels were heated to at least 175°C over 5.5 minutes and then held at 180°C for at least 4.5 minutes. After cooling, the resulting solutions were diluted up to 25 mL in volumetric flasks with ultrapure water.

Descriptive information about the bonds of the molecular or the compounded structures of the adsorbents was obtained from technique called ATR (attenuated total reflectance) in the device (BRUKER VERTEX 70 FT-IR ATR) of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).

After adsorption process, the dye concentration was measured at a wavelength corresponding to the maximum absorbance of AR114 ( of 522 nm) using a Thermospectronic AquaMate Spectrometer.

2.4. Adsorption Equilibrium Studies

Adsorption equilibrium studies were carried out at initial concentrations of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg/L, without pH correction, at 90 minutes for MNP and 120 minutes for RHA-MNP and at fixed adsorbent doses of 0.2 g/200 mL (1 g/L). Adsorption equilibrium studies were employed to determine the adsorption capacity of the adsorbents by using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Langmuir isotherm, assuming that the adsorbent surface is resembled by means of the energy, was used to explain single-layered homogenous adsorption. It also helps to estimate the maximum adsorption capacity, and it is expressed as follows [24]:

(mg/g) expresses the AR114 amount that each unit adsorbent adsorbs in the equilibrium condition, (mg/L) stands for the AR114 concentration that remains in the solution after the adsorption when the equilibrium condition is reached, (L/mg) is the equilibrium constant, and expresses the adsorbate amount (mg/g) that is needed for single-layered form [25].

Langmuir equation is linearized as follows:

Experimental results, versus values, were calculated by plotting of against [1].

Freundlich model is an empirical equation that is used to estimate the concentration of the adsorbent which can be observed on the surface of the adsorbent. Freundlich model and the linearized Freundlich equation are given below [26]:

is color concentration in the solution after the adsorption process (mg/L), is adsorbed amount of material that is on the unit adsorbent (mg/g), is adsorption capacity that is calculated in the experiments, and is adsorption density.

Plot of against yields a straight line which indicates the adaptation of the Freundlich model. The value of indicates the affinity of the adsorbate toward the adsorbent. and can be calculated from the slope and intercept, respectively [1].

2.5. Adsorption Kinetics

In the study pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were used to analyze the adsorption kinetics of AR114. Lagergren equation is probably the first known method to estimate the adsorption speed in liquid phased systems. It is a commonly used equation for the first-order kinetics and expressed as follows [27]:

is pseudo-first-order adsorption rate constant (min⁻¹), is the amount that is adsorbed in equilibrium condition (mg/g), and is the adsorbed amount at time (mg/g). The equation is integrated into form (4), using the boundary conditions , and , :

The line that is drawn in the graph of against helps calculating and from the slope of the graph.

The integrated form of the pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetic equation for the boundary conditions, from to and from to , is as follows [1]:

If the initial adsorption rate is (mg/g), (8) is expressed as (10):

and can be estimated from the slope of the tangent line which is drawn to the slope of against graph.

3. Results and Discussions

3.1. Characteristics of Adsorbents

Chemical characterization of MNP and RHA-MNP is shown in Table 2. Carbonyl groups are the main function groups in ash. They decrease with the increasing burning temperature. This phenomenon contributes to the decrease in surface hydroxyl groups [28]. The surface area of rice husk ash depends on the amorphous carbon that is formed during the burning process.

Table 2: Chemical characterization of MNP and RHA-MNP.

Sample
%

Si
S
P
Al
Ti
Fe
Ca
Mg
Na
K

MNP
0.002
0.5
0.0005
0.01
0.000015
62.99
0
0.0027
0.000005
0.0075

RHA-MNP
0.09
1.58
0.003
0.06
0.79
40.10
0.015
0.014
0.0026
0.127

SEM images give information about the morphology of the adsorbent. On the other hand they are also expected to be compatible with adsorption isotherm. SEM images shown in Figure 2 were taken at 100x and 5,000x magnification to observe the surface morphologies of raw rice husk, rice husk ash burned at 300°C, MNP, RHA-MNP, and MNP and RHA-MNP after adsorption process (MNP-A and RHA-MNP-A). According to the morphological assessment based upon the SEM images, the image of the raw rice husk without any heat treatment resembles an image of a corncob and the rice husk has protruding pattern like regular round shaped hills. The burning process of the rice husk was not completely done and the skeleton of the rice husk was not destroyed completely yet at 300°C. As a result of the burning process the patterns became more distinct. Magnetic nanoparticles contain nanosized pores (Figure 2(c)). After the adsorption process, pores on the surface of the magnetic nanoparticles decreased and planar formations occurred.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

Figure 2: SEM images of the adsorbents: (a) rice husk, (b) rice husk ash burned at 300°C, (c) MNP, (d) MNP after adsorption process (MNP-A), (e) RHA-MNP, and (f) RHA-MNP after adsorption process (RHA-MNP-A).

Although RHA-MNP structurally resembles MNP, it can be stated that rice husk ash settles on the active pores of MNP. Besides, due to the dyes that were engaged to the pores, RHA-MNP-A contained fewer pores and showed more homogenous structure (Figure 2(f)). The surface of MNP-A is heterogeneous structure (Figure 2(d)).

FT-IR spectrum shows the functional groups that exist in the structure of adsorbent. FT-IR spectrum results for RHA and MNP-RHA are shown in Figures 3 and 4. A peak was observed for 3128 cm⁻¹ for MNP, which shows the aliphatic groups in MNP [29]. The same peak was observed for 3011 cm⁻¹ for RHA-MNP. Peaks smaller than 700 cm⁻¹ are related to the bonds of Fe-O in iron oxides and those peaks are observed for each adsorbent. Magnetic nanoparticles have two intense peaks. Those peaks are 632 cm⁻¹ and 585 cm⁻¹ [17]. This peak for MNP was observed as 552 cm⁻¹ and for RHA-MNP it was observed as 551 cm⁻¹.

Figure 3: FT-IR spectrum for MNP.

Figure 4: FT-IR spectrum for RHA-MNP.

3.2. The Effect of pH, Initial Dye Concentration, and Contact Time on Adsorption

The point of zero charge () is a significant parameter to explain adsorption of anions and cations under different pH values. The net total particle charge is zero at this point. This parameter helps to explain the mechanism of adsorption of anions and cations in the adsorption applications. In this study the was estimated by the mass titration method [30]. The values of the adsorbents MNP and RHA-MNP were found to be 4.5 and 3.5, respectively.

The pH of the solution is an important parameter in determining the adsorption properties of adsorbents. Table 3 shows natural pH according to initial AR114 concentration and adsorption processes onto MNP and RHA-MNP. As it can be seen from Table 3 after adsorption onto MNP pH reaches 4.5 which was of MNP and after adsorption onto RHA-MNP pH reaches 3.5 which was of RHA-MNP. As can be seen from Figure 5, the maximum values were obtained without changing pH of the solutions. This can be explained by low solubility of MNP and RHA-MNP at [31] and by the ligand exchange originating between surface of adsorbents and the anionic dye AR114 [32]. Lower values for AR114 were obtained at basic pH values than acidic pH values. As the pH increased, the MNP and MNP-RHA surface was more negatively charged. So the adsorption of AR114 molecules which is an anionic dye decreases when pH > as it is shown in Figure 5. values of MNP and RHA-MNP with an initial dye concentration of 100 mg/L were found to be 91.8 mg/g and 85.5 mg/g, respectively. values for MNP and RHA-MNP for pH 10 were found to be 43.9 mg/g and 43.1 mg/g, respectively. Since the maximum values were obtained at the natural pH (at of MNP and RHA-MNP) these pH values were selected for all subsequent AR114 adsorption experiments.

Table 3: pH variations after adsorption onto MNP and RHA-MNP (without pH correction).

Initial dye concentration (mg/L)
pH after adsorption with MNP ( min)
pH after adsorption with RHA-MNP ( min)

20
4.37
3.41

40
4.38
3.42

60
4.47
3.48

80
4.48
3.49

100
4.49
3.52

Figure 5: The variation of values depending on pH values of MNP and RHA-MNP.

The effect of initial dye concentration for the adsorption of AR114 on MNP and RHA-MNP is shown in Figure 6. (mg/g) values onto MNP and RHA-MNP, by the increase in the dye concentration from 20 mg/L to 100 mg/L, were increased from 13.9 mg/g to 91.8 mg/g and from 17.4 mg/g to 85.5 mg/g, respectively. This is because of the increasing driving force due to the increased dye concentration. An increase in the initial dye concentration increases the interaction between the adsorbent and dye [33]. Initial dye concentration provides a driving force to eliminate the mass transfer of AR114 between the liquid and solid phases.

Figure 6: The effect of initial dye concentration for the adsorption of AR114.

The effects of contact time according to initial dye concentration for the adsorption of AR114 are shown in Figure 7. As it is seen equilibrium concentration was reached in 30 minutes for MNP and was reached in 90 minutes for RHA-MNP. The adsorption rate increases as the driving force increases due to the increased initial dye concentration. The dye in the solution, with a low initial concentration, interacts with the binding sites and therefore the high adsorption rate is obtained [33]. However, in high initial concentrations, binding sites get saturated; therefore, the adsorption rate decreases. It is a result of the formation of the binding sites with low energy due to the increased dye concentration [34].

(a)

(b)

Figure 7: The effect of contact time for the adsorption of AR114 onto MNP (a) and RHA-MNP (b) (at natural pH).

3.3. Adsorption Isotherms

Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm plots are presented in Figures 8 and 9. The isotherm constants were calculated from the linear form of each model and and values for Langmuir isotherm, and values for Freundlich isotherm, and values for both isotherms are given in Table 4. As can be seen from values given in Table 4, Freundlich model yielded better fit than the Langmuir model for the adsorption of AR114 on MNP. values of MNP for Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms are 0.93 and 0.99, respectively. On the other hand values of RHA-MNP indicate consistency of Langmuir isotherm. Langmuir adsorption capacity was found to be 111 mg dye/g adsorbent for two of the adsorbents. According to results impregnating Fe₃O₄ onto rice husk ash did not change the adsorption capacity.

Table 4: Constants of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms.

Adsorbent
Langmuir isotherm
Freundlich isotherm

(mg/g)
(L/g)

(mg/g)

MNP
111
0.197
0.9337
20.53
0.53
0.9933

RHA-MNP
111
0.110
0.9930
14.36
0.57
0.9849

Figure 8: Isotherm plots for the adsorption of AR114 with MNP (natural pH, = 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg/L, and = 1 g/L).

Figure 9: Isotherm plots for the adsorption of AR114 with RHA-MNP (natural pH, = 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg/L, and = 1 g/L).

The characteristics of the Langmuir isotherm could be expressed by a separation factor, , which is defined as [35]

where is any adsorbate concentration at which the adsorption is carried out. Favorable adsorption is indicated by 0 < < 1 [36]. The values were found to be between 0.048 and 0.8 for MNP and between 0.08 and 0.31 for RHA-MNP for initial concentrations of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg/L (data not shown). values between 0 and 1 show favorable adsorption of AR114 on RHA-MNP and MNP.

and values indicate the adsorption capacity and adsorption density, respectively. values for AR114 adsorption for MNP and RHA-MNP are given as 0.53 and 0.57 in Table 4, respectively. Being smaller than 1, value indicates the convenience of the adsorbents for the dye removal [37]. The consistency of Freundlich isotherm for MNP proves that the surface of the adsorbent consists of small, heterogeneous pores that resemble each other [38].

Table 5 gives the value for AR114 adsorption on MNP and RHA-MNP obtained in this study in comparison with the values obtained in the other studies carried out with various adsorbents. As can be seen from Table 5, the maximum adsorption capacity () of MNP and RHA-MNP has the value of 111 mg/g for adsorption of AR114. When the adsorption capacity of MNP and RHA-MNP is compared with other adsorbents, it can be understood that these adsorbents possess good adsorption capacity for AR114 dye and rice husk which is a waste could be used as an adsorbent in terms of environmental solutions.

Table 5: Adsorption capacities obtained from present study and other studies for the removal of AR114.

Adsorbent
(mg/g)
Reference

Activated pongam seed shells
204.08
[20]

Activated cotton seed shells
153.85
[20]

Activated sesame seed shells
102.04
[20]

Activated carbon-charcoal
101
[21]

Acid activated Eichornia crassipes
112.3
[22]

Filtrasorb F 400
103.5
[23]

MNP
111
This study

RHA-MNP
111
This study

3.4. Adsorption Kinetics

Kinetic studies give valuable information about the mechanism and rate of adsorption processes. Adsorption rate () and equilibrium adsorption capacity () which are very important in choosing a better material as a good adsorbent can be calculated by kinetic models [39, 40]. Kinetics of AR114 adsorption on the MNP and RHA-MNP were analyzed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetics. Results of adsorption kinetic models are given in Figures 10 and 11 and Table 6. Figures 10 and 11 give the linear plots’ pseudo-second-order equations for adsorption of AR114 onto MNP and RHA-MNP for the initial concentrations of 60 mg/L and 100 mg/L.

Table 6: Kinetic parameters for the adsorption of AR114 on MNP and RHA-MNP (, 100 mg/L,  g/L, and natural pH).

MNP

Pseudo-first-order model

(mg/L)
(mg/g)
(mg/g)
(min⁻¹)

60
56.06
6.75
0.0513
0.9178

100
91.81
17.48
0.0842
0.6626

Pseudo-second-order model

(mg/L)
(mg/g)
(g/mg min)
(g/mg min)

60
56.82
78.74
0.024
0.9999

100
92.59
119.05
0.014
0.9999

RHA-MNP

Pseudo-first-order model

(mg/L)
(mg/g)
(mg/g)
(min⁻¹)

60
55.39
32.58
0.035
0.9921

100
85.54
53.59
0.026
0.9934

Pseudo-second-order model

(mg/L)
(mg/g)
(g/mg min)
(g/mg min)

60
57.47
8.842
0.002
0.9982

100
85.47
10.237
0.001
0.9954

Figure 10: Plot of pseudo-second-order equation for adsorption of AR114 on MNP at different initial dye concentrations (natural pH, = 60 and 100 mg/L, and = 1 g/L).

Figure 11: Plot of pseudo-second-order equation for adsorption of AR114 on RHA-MNP at different initial dye concentrations (natural pH, = 60 and 100 mg/L, and = 1 g/L).

As given in Table 6, of the pseudo-second-order equations were 0.99 which were close to unity and bigger than pseudo-first-order kinetic model for both adsorbents. For this reason figures related to the pseudo-first-order equations were not shown. As it could be seen from Table 6 the calculated data () agreed well with the experimental data () for second-order kinetics. As it is shown from Table 6 the adsorption capacities increased with the initial concentration of the AR114 dye. This shows the favorable adsorption at high concentration [41]. The values of decrease with the increasing initial concentrations. As stated in literature, at higher concentrations, the competition for the surface active sites was high and at lower concentrations competition for the sorption surface sites was low, and consequently lower values were obtained [39]. The higher adsorption rate constant demonstrated faster removal rates of AR114 with lower concentrations [42].

4. Conclusion

The removal of AR114 by adsorption process, using the magnetic nanoparticle (RHA-MNP) which is produced from rice husk ash burned at 300°C as support material and the magnetic nanoparticle (MNP, Fe₃O₄), was studied. The results are summarized below:

(i)MNP contains 62.99% of Fe, while RHA-MNP contains 40.10% of Fe.(ii)MNP contains nanosized pores. After the adsorption process, an insensible decrease was observed in the porosity of the surface; and heterogeneous, planar formations occurred. Although RHA-MNP structurally resembles MNP, it was estimated that rice husk ash settles on the active pores of MNP. As the dyes are held in the pores of RHA-MNP-A, it has a less porous and homogenous pattern.(iii)The maximum values for each adsorbent were obtained without correcting pH (natural pH). Natural pH values were equal to for two of the adsorbents. The adsorption capacity decreases generally for each adsorbent in high pH values, since negatively charged OH⁻ ions, which are above , and negatively charged dye ions are competing with each other.(iv)Both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were observed to be convenient to each adsorbent; however Freundlich model yielded better fit for the adsorption of AR114 on MNP and Langmuir model yielded better fit for the adsorption of AR114 on RHA-MNP. Langmuir adsorption capacity was found to be 111 mg dye/g adsorbent for both adsorbents. The consistency of Freundlich isotherm for MNP indicates that the surface of the adsorbent consists of small heterogeneous pores that resemble each other. Similarly, the consistency of Langmuir isotherm for RHA-MNP indicates that surface of adsorbent consists of homogeneous pores.(v)Kinetic data were adequately fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. It is found that values decrease with increasing initial concentration for adsorption of AR114 on MNP and RHA-MNP. It shows that the adsorption process most probably occurs with the surface alteration reaction till the functional areas on the surface are completely filled. Then, the dye molecules are diffused into the adsorbents with various interactions (complex formation, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, etc.).(vi)It can be concluded that RHA-MNP which is a waste could be used as low-cost adsorbent to remove AR114 from aqueous solution.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by NKU-BAP Project no. NKUBAP.00.17.AR.12.07.

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