Mechanistic aspects of magnetic MgAlNi barium-ferrite nanocomposites enhanced adsorptive removal of an anionic dye from aqueous phase

The mechanistic aspects of improved aqueous removal of methyl orange (MO) dyes using high performance novel magnetic MgAlNi barium-ferrite (MgAlNi-BaFe) ternary double layer hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites is reported in this study. Detailed surface characterization coupled with kinetic, equilibrium, thermodynamics and regeneration studies were undertaken under different operational conditions of temperature (298–318 K), initial concentration (20–100 mg/L), pH (2–6). The kinetic results show that MO sorption was mainly, associated with pseudo-second order and intra-particular diffusion process. The MO adsorption onto the MgAlNi-BaFe nanocomposites suggests a multi-layered sorption process that is endothermic and spontaneous in nature. The MO adsorption mechanism insight taken in cognizance of FTIR, XRD, pKa, zeta potential, the adsorbates surface functional groups and the adsorbate-adsorbent surface charges interactions suggest involvement of hydrogen bonding and n-π interactions, predominantly via physisorption process (ΔG° = −7.406 to −5.69 kJ/mol). The excellent adsorptive performance of the MgAlNi-BaFe adsorbents for removal of MO from water compared with other magnetic LDH nanocomposites was further elucidated via the MgAlNi-BaFe nanomaterials high rates of regeneration and superior performances for three successive desorption-adsorption cycles. This study demonstrates the high potentials of employing MgAlNi-BaFe nanomaterials for removal of dyes from water and wastewater.