The combination of Luffa cylindrical fibers and metal oxides offers a highly performing hybrid fiber material in water decontamination

The present investigation aims to prepare a hybrid material from Luffa cylindrica and metal oxides (ZnO, Al2O3) by precipitation for different percentages of zinc and aluminum (1, 2, and 4%) with a determined amount of biomass (a diameter of 250m). Physicochemical characterization of Luffa cylindrica and Luffa cylindrica-metal oxides was carried out by Boehm titration, pH(PZC) determination, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and FTIR spectroscopic analysis. The process was optimized according to the adsorbed amount of methylene blue: MB (cationic dye) and methyl orange: MO (anionic dye) onto Luffa cylindrica and hybrid materials prepared. The results demonstrated the efficiency of the designed hybrid materials in removing MB and MO, accelerating the biosorption process and improving the performance of Luffa cylindrica fibers. The highest quantities adsorbed of dyes were obtained by the hybrid material prepared using 4% ZnO. Finally, the Brouers-Sotolongo mathematical modeling of kinetics was used in order to describe the pollutants retention process.