Cationic Dye Removal Using Novel Magnetic/Activated Charcoal/β-Cyclodextrin/Alginate Polymer Nanocomposite

New magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4)/activated charcoal (AC)/β-cyclodextrin (CD)/sodium alginate (Alg) polymer nanocomposite materials were prepared by direct mixing of the polymer matrix with the nanofillers. The obtained materials were utilized as nano-adsorbents for the elimination of methylene blue (MB), a hazardous water-soluble cationic dye, from aqueous solutions, and showed excellent regeneration capacity. The formation of the nanocomposites was followed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and adsorption of N2 at −196 °C. The rate of adsorption was investigated varying several factors, namely contact time, pH, amount of adsorbent and MB concentration on the adsorption process. Studies dealing with…