A novel magnetically separable gamma-Fe2O3/crosslinked chitosan adsorbent: preparation, characterization and adsorption application for removal of hazardous azo dye.

A novel magnetically separable adsorbent, namely magnetic gamma-Fe(2)O(3)/crosslinked chitosan composites (Mgamma-Fe(2)O(3)/CSCs), was prepared by microemulsion process and characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TGA, DSC, SEM and VSM. Adsorption of methyl orange (MO), used as a model pollutant, from aqueous solution on Mgamma-Fe(2)O(3)/CSCs was investigated. Characterization results indicated that magnetic gamma-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles have been introduced in Mgamma-Fe(2)O(3)/CSCs and kept intrinsic magnetic properties. The saturated magnetization (sigma(s)) of Mgamma-Fe(2)O(3)/CSCs can be expediently adjusted by changing additive dosage of gamma-Fe(2)O(3). Adsorption results showed that both nanocomposite adsorbents with weight ratio of gamma-Fe(2)O(3) to chitosan of 1:10 and 2:5 exhibited higher adsorption capacities and attained adsorption equilibria in shorter time compared with crosslinked chitosan. After adsorption, Mgamma-Fe(2)O(3)/CSCs were effectively separated from reaction solution in 10s by applying an adscititious magnetic field. Adsorption kinetics of MO on 1:10 Mgamma-Fe(2)O(3)/CSCs followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Effects of both initial pH and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption of MO were remarkable in experimental conditions.