Morphology controlled synthesis of α-FeOOH crystals and their shape-dependent adsorption for decontamination of Congo red dye

• Published in: Materials research innovations Vol. 19; no. 5; pp. 385 - 391
• Main Authors: Zhang, E. L., Sun, X. J., Liu, X. T., Wang, Q. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 01.08.2015
• Subjects: Adsorption; Congo red; Crystals; Degradation; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Morphology; Morphology control; Nanoparticles; Nanorods; Specific surface; Surface chemistry; α-FeOOH nanorods
• ISSN: 1432-8917; 1433-075X
• DOI: 10.1179/1433075X15Y.0000000019

The α-FeOOH nanorods with superb adsorption properties have been synthesised by a facile and scaled-up method. In this approach, KOH solution concentration plays a crucial role in controlling the morphology of α-FeOOH nanaocrystals. It has been demonstrated that the synthesised α-FeOOH nanorods are about 10 nm in diameter and 100 nm in length. The α-FeOOH nanorods have a high specific surface area (333 m 2  g − 1 ), and exhibited super adsorption properties, with maximum adsorption capacity of 104.2 mg g − 1 for Congo red (CR). The as-prepared nanorods show a larger specific surface area than the nanoparticles do, which enhance their adsorption capacity and increase their potential for application in wastewater treatment. The adsorption process of CR on α-FeOOH nanorods was systematically investigated, which was found to obey the pseudo-second-order rate equation and Langmuir adsorption model.