Chitosan/nanocellulose based nanocomposite for malachite green dye removal: Preparation, characterization, isotherm and kinetics modelling

In this study chitosan-nanocellulose based composite used as an adsorbent for the removal of Malachite Green dye from aqueous solution. The nanocomposite adsorbent was characterized by SEM and Contact angle. To evaluate the efficiency of the nanocomposite as an adsorbent batch study was done and effects of various parameters such as contact time (10-60 min), pH (2-8) of the dye solution, initial dye concentration (20-100 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (0.01-0.07 g) were observed. After optimization, adsorption isotherms and kinetics modelling were done and it was observed that adsorption experiment shows best fitted relationship with Freundlich isotherm (R2=0.951) and kinetics followed pseudo second order reaction (R2 =0.998) during adsorption of dye molecules. Results showed that adsorption shows heterogenous and chemisorption adsorption mechanism during dye molecules removal. This nanocomposite adsorbent seems to be highly effective and low-cost adsorbent for the removal of dye molecules from the aqueous solution.