A Core-Shell Magnetic Layered Double Hydroxide Composite Material for the Effective Decolorization of Phenol Red

Abstract

The magnetic composite based on layered double hydroxide (Fe3O4/NiMn-LDH) was prepared by co-precipitation procedure and considered as a material to eliminate phenol red (PR) from aqueous environments. The characterization of Fe3O4/NiMn-LDH were recognized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Box-Behnken design (BBD) under response surface methodology (RSM) were applied to evaluate the effects of the process variables such as pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial PR concentration (Co). The results indicated that a good correlation between the estimated and experimental values was found for the PR decolorization efficiency from aqueous media using Fe3O4/NiMn-LDH (R2 = 0.99). Furthermore, the statistical model obtained from BBD was sufficient to estimate the PR decolorization on Fe3O4/NiMn-LDH (p < 0.0001). The optimal conditions for the PR decolorization efficiency were determined as 5.38, 24.59 mg, and 25.39 mg/L for pH, adsorbent dosage, and Co, respectively which resulted in 86.93% the PR decolorization efficiency. Finally, this work demonstrated that BBD could easefully be utilized for the optimization of the PR decolorization using Fe3O4/NiMn-LDH.