Thermodynamics, kinetics and isothermal studies of tartrazine adsorption onto microcline/MWCNTs nanocomposite and the regeneration potentials

The quest for a cheap, effective, and eco-friendly wastewater treatment technique that is free of secondary toxic byproducts, calls for the fabrication of a nature-friendly adsorbent with a robust capacity to decontaminate polluted water sources and be recycled. To this end, we report the fabrication of novel nanocomposite (KMCM) from microcline (KMC) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The adsorbents (KMC and KMCM) were characterized using XRD, BET, SEM, TGA and FTIR. The novel and low-cost nano sorbent were designed for the elimination of tartrazine (Tatz) from wastewater. The adsorption of Tatz onto KMC and KMCM was influenced by adsorbent dose, initial Tatz concentration, contact time and solution pH. Experimental data acquired from the equilibrium studies were well addressed by the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum uptake capacity of 37.96 mg g(−1) and 67.17 mg g(−1) were estimated for KMC and KMCM. The kinetics for the adsorption of Tatz onto KMC and KMCM was best expressed by pseudo-second-order and Elovich models. The thermodynamic parameters revealed that the uptake of Tatz onto KMC and KMCM was an endothermic (ΔH: KMC = 35.0 kJ mol(−1) and KMCM = 42.91 kJ mol(−1)), entropy-driven (ΔS: KMC = 177.6 J K(−1) mol(−1) and KMCM = 214.2 J K(−1) mol(−1)) and spontaneous process. Meanwhile, KMCM demonstrated good reusability potential and superior adsorption efficiency when compared to other adsorbents.