Enhanced adsorption of anionic diazo dye by magnetic layered double hydroxide (Zn0.5Cu0.5Fe2O4@SiO2@Ni-CrLDH) from aqueous solution

A novel magnetic layered double hydroxide known as Zn0.5Cu0.5 Fe2O4@SiO2@Ni−Cr layered double hydroxide was synthesized with Zn0.5 Cu0.5Fe2O4, SiO2 and Ni−CrLDH by using coprecipitation method. In order to compare the adsorption efficiency, the Ni−CrLDH sample also was synthesized. The synthesized samples were characterized by X−ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The adsorption of Congo red (CR) by magnetic layered double hydroxide depended upon the contact time, initial dye concentration and pH. The adsorption of the Congo red (CR) reached equilibrium at 180 min and followed the pseudo−second−order kinetic equation. The adsorption capacity of the magnetic layered double hydroxide changed significantly between pH 4−10 and the maximum dye removal were 88% for CR. Moreover, the magnetic layered double hydroxide can be quickly separated from the aqueous solution by an external magnet before and after adsorption process. This indicated that the Zn0.5Cu0.5Fe2O4@SiO2@Ni−CrLDH composite was an effective adsorbent for CR dye removal with quick separation. The adsorption performance of the synthesized Zn0.5 Cu0.5Fe2O4, SiO2 and Ni−CrLDH and comparing with Ni−CrLDH show that the Zn0.5Cu0.5Fe2O4@SiO2@Ni−CrLDH can be more efficient than Ni−CrLDH for removal of CR dye.