Preparation of silver nanoparticle loaded on activated carbon and its application for removal of malachite green from aqueous solution

Abstract

Adsorption of malachite green (MG) onto silver nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon (Ag-NP-AC) was investigated. Useful information about this material was obtained by different techniques such as Brunauer Emmett and teller (BET), filed emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission electron microscopy. This reasonable low-cost, simple preparation and eco-friendly adsorbent is superior and alternative material to the current expensive substance for treatment of high amount of waste water. The influence of adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, and pH and contact time was examined to achieve and ascertain the optimal experimental conditions. The optimum dosage, pH and contact time for Ag-NP-AC were obtained to be 0.020 g, pH 5.00 and 25.0 min, respectively. The adsorption of malachite green obey the pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion rate equation with 99.7% removal percentage at adsorbent dose of 0.025 g for 5–50 mg/L initial concentration at room temperature. This protocol is a versatile and widely used technique for MG removal. The isotherms and kinetics constants shows high adsorption efficiency of modified material, which may be attributed to its porous and high surface area. It was found that by using 0.020 g of Ag-NP-AC maximum removal capacity of 95.2 mg/g and 97.6 % MG removal percentage was obtained.

Keyword:

• malachite green
• silver nanoparticle loaded on activated carbon
• kinetics and isotherm study

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Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful for financial support from the research council of the Yasouj University. Gachsaran Branch, Islamic Azad University.