Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan-Copper Composite for Reactive Orange-16 Dye Decontamination from Effluents

This study aims to develop and characterize a novel composite material, Chitosan-copper (Ch-Cu), and assess its efficacy as an adsorbent for the removal of reactive orange-16 (RO16) dye from water systems. Chitosan and copper (II) ions were combined to fabricate Ch-Cu, which underwent thorough characterization using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTA). Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the adsorption behavior of Ch-Cu under different conditions, such as pH, contact time, dosage, initial dye concentration, and temperature. The adsorption capacity of Ch-Cu for RO16 dye surpassed that of native chitosan. At pH 6.0, Ch-Cu achieved an impressive 92% adsorption of RO16 dye. Langmuir isotherm analysis revealed monolayer adsorption with a maximum capacity of 108.2 mg/g. Furthermore, the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order process, while thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption process was driven by enthalpy, spontaneous, and exothermic in nature. Ch-Cu, with its enhanced mechanical and thermal stability, exhibits great potential as a cost-effective adsorbent for the removal of RO16 dye from water systems. Its unique composition and surface properties make it a promising candidate for further exploration in water treatment applications.