Removal of remazol yellow from aqueous solution using Fe-Cu and Fe-Ni nanoscale oxides and their carbonaceous composites

Fe-Cu and Fe-Ni nanoscale oxides and their carbonaceous composites (C/Fe-Cu and C/Fe-Ni, 75/25 wt.%; C/Fe-Cu and C/Fe-Ni 95/5 wt.%), made from pyrolysis of sewage sludge, have been evaluated to remove remazol yellow textile dye from aqueous solution. The kinetic and sorption isotherms experimental results were best fitted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm models, which indicates that the sorption mechanism may be chemisorption onto heterogeneous surfaces. Fe-Ni and Fe-Cu nanoscale oxides adsorption capacities were 157.8 mg/g and 117.6 mg/g, resulting in nearly 83% and 70% of dye removal, respectively, using 100 mg/L of initial dyestuff concentration and 10 mg of each material. The adsorption capacities of Fe-Cu, Fe-Ni oxides and C/Fe-Cu 75/25%, C/Fe-Ni 75/25% composites provide better results at pH between 3 and 5. In addition, three sorption-desorption cycles using 30% H2O2 solution and distilled water were performed: sorption efficiencies for all materials decreased after each cycle; nevertheless, Fe-Cu and Fe-Ni nanoscale oxides were the best materials for the removal of remazol yellow dye.