Polyaniline zirconium (IV) silicophosphate nanocomposite for remediation of methylene blue dye from waste water

Polyaniline zirconium (IV) silicophosphate (PANI-ZSP) nanocomposite has been used for sorptive removal of methylene blue dye from water system. PANI-ZSP has been prepared by mixing polymer polyaniline with inorganic counterpart (ZSP) using sol-gel method at 0-1 pH. The nanocomposite material was well-characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FUR). The adsorption data was well studied using various isotherms, kinetics models and thermodynamics. The maximum adsorption capacity of methylene blue (MB) onto PANI-ZSP was found to be 12 mg/g. The adsorption of MB onto PANI-ZSP nanocomposite followed the second-order kinetics and best fitted the Frendluich isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy change (Delta H degrees), entropy change (Delta S degrees) and free energy change (Delta G degrees) were found to be 4.42 kJ/mol, 33.18 J/mol K and -5.80 kJ/mol, respectively. The adsorption of methlyene blue onto the adsorbent indicated the spontaneous nature of the process. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.