Methylene blue removal from water using H2SO4 crosslinked magnetic chitosan nanocomposite beads

H2SO4 crosslinked magnetic chitosan nanocomposite beads had been prepared and applied as adsorbents for methylene blue removal. The nanocomposite beads were prepared with content variations of Fe3O4 and H2SO4. Nanosized Fe3O4 crystallite has been prepared and confirmed by XRD and SEM analysis. The Fe3O4 crystallite was used to synthesize H2SO4 crosslinked magnetic chitosan nanocomposite beads where their formation was confirmed by FTIR, XRD and SEM analysis. Adsorption experiments were conducted with several different contact times, pH values and initial concentrations of methylene blue. The equilibrium of methylene blue adsorption by H2SO4 crosslinked magnetic chitosan nanocomposite beads was reached at 25 min contact time. The adsorption capacity increased as the solution pH increased. Based on Langmuir isotherm model, the maximum adsorption capacity of H2SO4 crosslinked magnetic chitosan nanocomposite beads on methylene blue adsorption was 20.408 mg/g.