Fabrication of Zr–Ce Embedded Graphene Oxide and Magnesia Supported Chitosan Composite for Malachite Green Removal from Water

Abstract The synthetic dyes are used for coloring purposes after that the untreated dyeing effluents are released into the environment. Due to its high carcinogenic nature, the removal of dye is essential for safe environment. Herein, the graphene oxide and magnesia supported chitosan cross‐linked with Zr–Ce bimetallic hybrid composite, namely GOMCZC, was developed by in situ method for malachite green (MG) adsorption. The presence of elemental composition, morphology, and functional groups of developed GOMCZC composite was analyzed by EDAX, XRD, SEM, and FTIR analyses. To assess the maximum adsorption capacity, the various adsorption influencing parameters were studied under batch mode. The maximum adsorption capacity of the GOMCZC composite (47.50 mg/g) was attained at 0.1 g dosage, dye concentration of 100 mg/L, and 40 min shaking time. The Langmuir model was suitable model for the adsorption process due to having greater correlation coefficient value ( r = 0.997) than the D–R and Fruendlich isotherms models. In thermodynamic data, the negative ∆ G ° and positive Δ H ° (0.45 kJ/mol)) and Δ S ° (1.15 J/mol/K) at 303, 313, and 323 K, denote that the MG adsorption onto GOMCZC composite was endothermic and spontaneous. The order of the adsorption process was identified by the experiments of kinetic studies and the results revealed that the pseudo‐second‐order model was followed for MG adsorption. The plausible mechanism was explored by hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and π–π interaction. The reusable and regenerative nature of GOMCZC material was successfully carried out upto five cycles.