Synthesis of ZnO/CuO nanocomposite immobilized on γ-Al2O3 and application for removal of methyl orange

ZnO/CuO nanocomposite immobilized on gamma-Al2O3 was prepared by heterogeneous precipitation method. The composite was used as an adsorbent for the removal of anionic dye methyl orange (MO) from aqueous solution. The synthesized nanocomposites were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The SEM results showed that a layered structure was formed which was composed of nanostructured sheets. Thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy change (Delta H degrees), entropy change (Delta S degrees) and free energy change (Delta G degrees) were also investigated. Free energy change showed that adsorption of methyl orange was spontaneous. The adsorption capacityincreased with increasing CuO content, and the highest adsorption capacity of 341 mg/g was obtainedat calcination temperature of 400 degrees C. The study showed that this nanocomposite can be considered apromising adsorbent to decontaminate water. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.