Application of response surface methodology for modeling adsorption of janus green and safranin-O on magnetic nanocomposite from aqueous solutions

The presence of dyes in water bodies has become a significant concern in recent years. In this study, a magnetic nanocomposite synthesized from activated carbon (AC) and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (AC/FeO) was employed as an adsorbent to remove janus green (JG) and safranin-O (SO) dyes. The AC/FeO nanocomposite had particle sizes smaller than 100 nm. The specific surface area, pore size, and pore volume average of the AC/FeO nanocomposite were 329.56 m² g^-1, 3.67 nm, and 0.289 cm³ g^-1, respectively. The pH_pzc of AC/FeO magnetic nanocomposite was found to be 5.3. Optimal conditions for removal were determined to be a dye concentration of 20 mg L^-1, a sonication time of 18 min, a nanocomposite dosage of 0.023 g, and a pH of 7. The AC/FeO nanocomposite exhibited excellent adsorption performance, achieving removal efficiencies of 95.79% and 97.60% for JG and SO, respectively. Moreover, the magnetic nanocomposite demonstrated good reusability, making it a promising candidate for removing JG and SO dyes from aqueous solutions. The AC/FeO nanocomposite was used to remove JG and SO from different environmental water samples, and the removal efficiency was obtained in the range of 87.65-94.81%. Overall, this study highlights the potential of the AC/FeO magnetic adsorbent, as an effective adsorbent for removing JG and SO dyes from water, which could have significant implications for water treatment and environmental protection.