Mg-Fe Layered Double Hydroxides/3D Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite with Exceptional Adsorption Capacity for Methylene Blue: Behavior and Mechanism
摘要
Methylene blue (MB), a toxic and non-biodegradable dye, poses serious risks to water safety and ecological health. Herein, (Mg-Fe) layered double hydroxides/3D reduced graphene oxide ((Mg-Fe) LDHs/3D-rGO) nanocomposite was constructed through a straightforward one-step hydrothermal strategy and assessed for methylene blue (MB) removal. Characterization results revealed that LDHs nanoparticles (approx. 58.0 nm) were uniformly anchored on the rGO sheets, forming a hierarchical 3D porous network with a specific surface area of 128.41 m2/g. The adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order model, revealing that physisorption played a dominant role. Isotherm analysis showed strong agreement with the Langmuir model, demonstrating a high maximum adsorption capacity of 789.41 mg/g at 308 K, which exceeds that of many previously reported adsorbents. Calculated thermodynamic parameters indicated that the MB adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic, accompanied by a positive entropy change. Multiple mechanisms were identified, including hydrogen bonding, complexation, ion exchange, π–π interactions, electrostatic attraction, and pore filling. Moreover, after five consecutive regeneration cycles, the material maintained 84.42% of its initial removal efficiency, indicating outstanding recyclability. This study underscores the potential of (Mg-Fe) LDHs/3D-rGO as a highly efficient and environmentally sustainable adsorbent for treating MB-contaminated wastewater and provides useful guidance for the design of next-generation adsorption materials.