Y2O3 functionalized natural palygorskite as an adsorbent for methyl blue removal

Abstract

Y₂O₃ functioned palygorskite (Pal) composite as a novel adsorbent has been successfully synthesized and characterized, which shows stable and rapid decolorization performance for methyl blue (MB). HRTEM images showed that Y₂O₃ nanoparticles with size about 2–5 nm evenly dispersed on palygorskite, and the increase of the binding energy of Y₂O₃ (Y3d_5/2) confirmed that several bonds such as Y–OH and Y–O–Si were existed in Y₂O₃/Pal adsorbent. Y₂O₃ modification greatly increased the number of negatively charged groups as Y₂O₃/Pal showed lower negative zeta potential than that of Pal. Therefore, the electrostatic interaction between Y₂O₃/Pal and MB is impossible to be the adsorption mechanism. What's more, it is found that the adsorption isotherm obeys the Langmuir model, with the maximum adsorption capacity greatly enhanced to 1579.06 mg g⁻¹, exhibiting potential applications in wastewater treatment.