Investigation of Adsorption Process and Kinetics of Sunset Yellow Dye Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using Zinc Metal-Organic Nano framework

The surface adsorption and removal of several azo and non-azo dye compounds used in the food and dye industries, which enter environmental wastewater after use, were investigated using nano-adsorbents. The anionic Sunset Yellow dye used in this research is a sulfone azo food dye that is water-soluble and employed for coloring various products in the food industry, such as sugar cane production, dietary supplements, soft drinks, jelly, fruit juices, and more. The results showed that the highest removal percentage of Sunset Yellow dye using zinc metal-organic framework occurs at pH 5, with efficiency decreasing at higher or lower pH values. The highest removal percentage of Sunset Yellow dye was achieved with 0.5 g/L of zinc oxide nano-adsorbent. The results indicated that the highest removal percentage for Sunset Yellow dye occurred within 40 minutes using the nano-adsorbent. Consequently, metal–organic nanosheets, with their unique combination of excellent surface area, tunable porosity, stability, and catalytic activity, are a promising answer to the challenge of removing persistent color pollutants from the environment. Future research will likely focus on scaling up synthesis, improving water stability under real-world conditions, and designing smart structures with easy recyclability and reuse.