Preparation and Characterization of Magnetic Biosorbent Based On Ceiba Pentandra

Cationic dye methylene blue (MB) and anionic dye Congo Red (CR) are among pollutant dyes that must be removed from the waste water stream especially from textile industries. The use of biosorbent for the removal of pollutants from waste water is inceasingly becoming attractive due to low cost and ease of preparation and application. In this study, magnetic biosorbent was developed based on Ceiba pentandra or kapok fiber to remove MB and CR dyes from aqueous solution. The raw kapok fiber (RKF) was first treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Then, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were introduced onto the surface of the RKF and treated-kapok fiber (NaOH-treated (SKF)). The magnetic nanocomposites (MNCs) based on kapok fiber could be separated out easily from the aqueous solution by an external magnet for its magnetic property. It can also provide more surface area and increase the adsorption capacity. The RKF-MNCs and SKF-MNCs were characterized morphologically and chemically by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM). Comparison of performance between RKF, RKF-MNCs and SKF-MNCs was studied for dye removal in batch mode for three different parameters; initial concentration, contact time and pH value. From the results obtained using Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-VIS) test, the optimum conditions for the adsorption process will be determined. Then corresponding SKF-MNCs adsorbent was used in adsorption experiment that conducted in these optimum conditions and it is expected that it will give the highest adsorbability compared to other adsorbent