Effect of calcination temperature on morphology and phase transformation of MnO nanoparticles: A step towards green synthesis for reactive dye adsorption.

Green synthesis of manganese oxide nanoparticles (NPs) was carried out by sol-gel method using Acacia Concinna fruit extract for removal of reactive dye. The effect of calcination temperature on its morphology was investigated. α-MnO and MnO NPs were synthesized at 400 °C and 900 °C respectively and were characterized by PXRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, BET, Raman and TGA. As-synthesized MnO NPs were investigated for the adsorption of Reactive Blue 21 (RB-21) dye. The effect of pH, adsorbent dose, agitation speed, initial dye concentration and temperature on dye removal was explored. pH was calculated from zeta potential study showing positive surface charge below pH 3.18 resulting in electrostatic force of attraction between adsorbate and adsorbent. Both linear and non-linear regression approaches were utilised for the fitting of kinetic models and adsorption isotherms. Adsorption data follows a pseudo second order kinetics and fits well with the Freundlich isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH, ΔS and ΔG were determined. The dye removal efficiency, in case of MnO NPs at pH 3.0 was obtained to be 98% whereas for MnO, no such dye adsorption was observed. The mechanism of adsorption was studied theoretically confirming π-π interaction and H-bonding between the MnO and RB dye molecules.