Magnetic carbon xerogel: efficient adsorbent for removing methylene blue dye.

The current study presents a comprehensive investigation into the synthesis and characterization of a composite material, Fe/N-CX, designed for the removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions. The synthesis process involves co-precipitating iron salts into a carbon dispersion, resulting in the creation of a carbon xerogel infused with magnetic iron particles. Melamine serves as the nitrogen source for the carbon xerogel, integrated into the polymer matrix via the sol–gel method. This amalgamation of carbon xerogel and magnetic iron particles renders the Fe/N-CX composite a highly promising adsorbent for dye removal. Various characterization techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), potentiometric titration, and N2 sorption isotherms, extensively probe the structural, chemical, and surface properties of the Fe/N-CX composite. These methods offer critical insights into its potential adsorption capabilities. Assessment of Fe/N-CX as a methylene blue dye adsorbent reveals an optimal pH of 11, indicating its highest adsorption capacity under slightly alkaline conditions. The maximum adsorption capacity, determined by the Langmuir model, reaches Qmax = 698 mg g−1. Furthermore, the adsorption kinetics data align well with the pseudo-second-order model. The prepared Fe/N-CX exhibits typical ferromagnetic properties, facilitating easy separation from the solution and allowing for multiple cycles of reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]