Equilibrium and kinetic studies of C.I. Basic Blue 41 adsorption onto N, F-codoped flower-like TiO2 microspheres

Three-dimensional (3D) N, F-codoped flower-like TiO2 microspheres were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method combined with calcination process. The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM and EDS. The adsorption abilities of prepared samples were investigated for the removal of C.I. Basic Blue 41(CB41) from aqueous solution. The FE-SEM and adsorption results showed that doping amount of NH4F affected the morphologies of samples and sample NFT-1 with the structure of 3D flower-like microsphere had the highest adsorption amount of CB41. The effects of varying parameters such as pH, contact time, initial dye concentration and temperature on the CB41 adsorption onto NFT-1 were further examined. Equilibrium data correlated with Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. The Langmuir isotherm showed the best fit to the equilibrium data. The kinetic experimental data were analyzed by three kinetic models including the pseudo-first-order model, the pseudo-second-order model and the intraparticle diffusion model to access the adsorption mechanism and the potential rate-controlling step. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model described best for the adsorption of CB41 on NFT-1 and the intraparticle diffusion was not the only rate-controlling step. The thermodynamics parameters as positive values of ΔH° and negative values of ΔG° showed that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous in nature.