Thermal Fabrication of Magnetic Fe(3)O(4) (Nanoparticle)@Carbon Sheets from Waste Resources for the Adsorption of Dyes: Kinetic, Equilibrium, and UV–Visible Spectroscopy Investigations

Thermal treatment is applied for the direct conversion of palm stalk waste to Fe(3)O(4) (np)@carbon sheets (Fe(3)O(4) (np)@CSs). The effect of conversion temperature was investigated. The TEM examination of the prepared magnetic Fe(3)O(4) (np)@CSs showed the formation of Fe(3)O(4) (np) in a matrix of carbon sheets as a coated layer with surface functional groups including carbonyl and hydroxyl groups. Removal of dyes such as methyl orange, methylene blue, and neutral red was achieved using fabricated Fe(3)O(4) (np)@CSs which were prepared at 250 °C, 400 °C, and 700 °C in a weak acidic medium. By studying the contact time effect for the adsorption of methylene blue, neutral red, and methyl orange, using the fabricated Fe(3)O(4) (np)@CSs which were prepared at 250 °C and 400 °C, equilibrium occurred between 120 min and 180 min. In addition, the first-order and second-order kinetic models were applied to the adsorption data. The results revealed that the adsorption data fit better with the second-order kinetic model. Furthermore, the Freundlich model was found to be more suitable for describing the process of the separation of the dyes onto Fe(3)O(4) (np)@CSs which were prepared at 250 °C and 400 °C, suggesting heterogenous surfaces and multi-layer adsorption.