Facile Synthesis of Citric Acid Functionalized Fe₃O₄@Activated Carbon Magnetic Nanocomposite for Efficient Adsorption of Brilliant Green Dye from Wastewater

Owing to the impact of brilliant green dye on potable water contamination, citric acid functionalized magnetic nanocomposite in presence of activated carbon was prepared for easy, quick, and efficient removal of the dye from water. Batch adsorption studies were conducted to maximize the adsorption efficiency by optimizing contact time, initial dye concentration, pH, dosage, and salt concentration. The maximum efficiency of the citric acid functionalized Fe₃O₄@activated carbon was found to be 773 mg g⁻¹. The efficiency of the monolayer adsorption process as depicted from the Langmuir model is explained based on the hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, and porosity of the adsorbent. The adsorption process follows a pseudo-second order kinetics model which can also be correlated to the relatively quick adsorption process. The saturation magnetization of the nanocomposites prepared in presence of activated carbon was found to be 35.2 emu/g, which makes it effective for quick magnetic separation. Built on the findings, we report an economical, efficient, and satisfactory alternative adsorbent for the abatement of brilliant green dye from coloured wastewater and contaminated water sources.