Optimization of the Adsorption of Malachite Green on the NH2-SBA-15 Nano-adsorbent Using the Taguchi Method by Qualitek-4 Software An Isotherm, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Study

SBA-15 nanoporous silica was prepared and functionalized with propylamine groups via post-synthesis grafting to develop efficient adsorbents of dyes in wastewater. The materials thus prepared were then characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, and FTIR. Adsorption of a cationic dye, malachite green, on functionalized SBA-15 was investigated under various conditions of pH (5, 6, and 7), temperature (10, 20, and 30 °C), adsorbent dosage (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 g/L), and dye concentration (50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 mg/L). Maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity to achieve maximum removal percentage (R%=100%) in optimum conditions (dye concentration=100 mg/L, pH=7, adsorbent dosage= 0.3 g/L) was estimated at 333 mg/g. The Taguchi method was used to optimize the adsorption performances of the materials , and then the isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic properties were analyzed under the optimum conditions. The results showed that the overall process was fast and its kinetics was well-fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The experimental data agreed well with Freundlich model. Therefore, the maximum amount of multilayer dye adsorbed was estimated as 500 mg/g. Based on the results obtained, this process may be regarded as an endothermic one with a negative ∆G, which shows the process is also spontaneous. Finally, the results indicate that the silica‐based nanoporous organic–inorganic hybrid material can be a promising sorbent for the removal of malachite green from aquatic solution