Microcrystalline cellulose/graphene oxide aerogel for adsorption of cationic dye from aqueous solution

Abstract

Today, the increasing growth of industrial activities has caused the entry of large amounts of pollutants into water resources. Owing to the toxicity of these pollutants, their removal from water sources is essential. An adsorbent based on microcrystalline cellulose/graphene oxide (MCC/GO) aerogel was synthesised and its efficiency was investigated to remove methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions. Various factors such as concentration of GO in microcrystalline cellulose/graphene oxide (MCC/GO-x) aerogel, pH solution, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of MB and contacting time were optimised on the adsorption capacity. The outcomes displayed that the maximum adsorption capacity could get to 645 mg g−1. The batch adsorption tests confirmed the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherms as the best-fitted models to describe the adsorption of the adsorbent.