Applications of response surface methodology for optimization of y-alumina nanoparticles synthesis and acid dye adsorption

Patcharee Kamthita; Suttida Tiamsri

Authors

Patcharee Kamthita Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Rangsit University, Patumthani 12000, Thailand
Suttida Tiamsri Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Rangsit University, Patumthani 12000, Thailand

Keywords:

adsorption, aluminum scrap, y-alumina nanoparticles, precipitation, response surface methodology

Abstract

Gamma alumina (g-alumina) nanoparticles were synthesized successfully by the calcination of aluminum hydroxide obtained from aluminum scrap using the control precipitation method. The effective parameters, including solution pH, temperature and time of aging, were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) based on a central composite design to obtain g-alumina nanoparticles with a high-surface area. The optimum conditions for g-alumina synthesis were pH 6.5 with an aging temperature of 75 °C, an aging time of 8 h, and subsequent calcination at 550 °C. The synthetic material was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and the N₂ adsorption–desorption technique. The results showed that the g-alumina nanoparticles had an average particle size of 21.18 nm, and a BET surface area of 283 m²/g was obtained from inexpensive raw materials. The synthetic g-alumina was examined for the adsorption of acid dye from aqueous solution and the isotherms were determined. RSM was also applied to evaluate the effect of experimental variables and their interaction in achieving the optimum conditions for acid dye removal. The adsorption behavior of acid yellow on g-alumina nanoparticles was well explained by Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity for the removal of acid yellow was found to be 125 mg/g.

References

Adans, Y. F., Martins, A. R., Coelho, R. E., Virgens, C. F. das, Ballarini, A. D., & Carvalho, L. S. (2016). A simple way to produce γ-alumina from aluminum cans by precipitation reactions. Materials Research, 19(5), 977-982. DOI: 10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2016-0310

Ahmedzeki, N. S., Hussein, S., & Abdulnabi, W. A. (2017). Recycling waste cans to nano gamma alumina: Effect of the calcination temperature and pH. International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, 7(1), 82-88. Retrieved from http://inpressco.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Paper1482-88.pdf

Asencios, Y. J. O., & Sun-Kou, M. R. (2012). Synthesis of high-surface-area γ-Al2O3 from aluminum scrap and its use for the adsorption of metals: Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II). Applied Surface Science, 258(24), 10002-10011. DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.06.063

Banerjee, S., Dubey, S., Gautam, R. K., Chattopadhyaya, M. C., & Sharma, Y. C. (2017). Adsorption characteristics of alumina nanoparticles for the removal of hazardous dye, Orange G from aqueous solutions. Arabian Journal of Chemistry. DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2016.12.016

Chatterjee, S., Kumar, A., Basu, S., & Dutta, S. (2012). Application of response surface methodology for methylene blue dye removal from aqueous solution using low cost adsorbent. Chemical Engineering Journal, 181-182, 289-299. DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2011.11.081

Chotisuwan, S., Sirirak, A., Har-Wae, P., & Wittayakun, J. (2012). Mesoporous alumina prepared from waste aluminum cans and used as catalytic support for toluene oxidation. Materials Letters, 70, 125-127. DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2011.11.077

De Sales, P. F., Magriotis, Z. M., Rossi, M. A. L. S., Resende, R. F., & Nunes, C. A. (2013). Optimization by response surface methodology of the adsorption of coomassie blue dye on natural and acid-treated clays. Journal of Environmental Management, 130, 417-428. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.08.067

Du, X., Wang, Y., Su, X., & Li, J. (2009). Influences of pH value on the microstructure and phase transformation of aluminum hydroxide. Powder Technology, 192(1), 40-46. DOI:10.1016/j.powtec.2008.11.008

Hellgardt, K., & Chadwick, D. (1998). Effect of pH of precipitation on the preparation of high surface area aluminas from nitrate solutions. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 37(2), 405-411. DOI: 10.1021/ie970591a

Huang, B., Bartholomew, C. H., Smith, S. J., & Woodfield, B. F. (2013). Facile solvent-deficient synthesis of mesoporous γ-alumina with controlled pore structures. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 165, 70-78. DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2012.07.052

Khosla, E., Kaur, S., & Dave, P. N. (2013). Mechanistic study of adsorption of acid orange-7 over aluminum oxide nanoparticles. Journal of Engineering, 2013, Article ID 593534, 1-8. DOI: 10.1155/2013/593534

Masouleh, N. S. G., Taghizadeh, M., & Yaripour, F. (2014). Optimization of effective sol-gel parameters for the synthesis of mesoporousγ-Al2O3 using experimental design. Chemical Engineering & Technology, 37(9), 1475-1482. DOI:10.1002/ceat.201300747

Matori, K., Wah, L., Hashim, M., Ismail, I., & Zaid, M. (2012). Phase transformations of α-alumina made from waste aluminum via a precipitation technique. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 13(12), 16812-16821. DOI: 10.3390/ijms131216812

Okada, K., Nagashima, T., Kameshima, Y., Yasumori, A., & Tsukada, T. (2002). Relationship between formation conditions, properties, and crystallite size of boehmite. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 253(2), 308-314. DOI: 10.1006/jcis.2002.8535

Osman, A. I., Abu-Dahrieh, J. K., McLaren, M., Laffir, F., Nockemann, P., & Rooney, D. (2017). A facile green synthetic route for the preparation of highly active γ-Al2O3 from aluminum foil waste. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 3593-3593. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03839-x

Parida, K. M., Pradhan, A. C., Das, J., & Sahu, N. (2009). Synthesis and characterization of nano-sized porous gamma-alumina by control precipitation method. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 113(1), 244-248. DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2008.07.076

Siahpoosh, S. M., Salahi, E., Hessari, F. A., Mobasherpour, I. (2016). Synthesis of γ-alumina nanoparticles with high-surface-area via sol-gel method and their performance for the removal of nickel from aqueous solution. Bulletin de la Société Royale des Sciences de Liège, 85, 912-934. Retrieved from https://popups.uliege.be/0037-9565/index.php?id=5748&file=1

Zykova, A., Livanova, A., Kosova, N., Godymchuk, A., & Mamontov, G. (2015). Aluminium oxide-hydroxides obtained by hydrothermal synthesis: influence of thermal treatment on phase composition and textural characteristics. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 98, 012032-012032. DOI: 10.1088/1757-899x/98/1/012032