Color removal efficiency of dyes using nanozerovalent iron treatment

In this study, zerovalent iron nanoparticles (Fe⁰) were synthesized by chemical reduction method using ferric chloride hexahydrate (FeCl₃?·?6H₂O) as a starting material. Sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) was used as a reducer. The synthesized nanozerovalent iron (NZVI) was separated using magnets. The X-ray diffraction pattern of iron (Fe) nanoparticles showed that the presence of intensive diffraction peak at 2θ value of 45.33° from the lattice plane of face-centered cubic Fe unequivocally indicates that the particles are made of pure Fe. The size of the synthesized NZVI was found to be 16.64?nm. The scanning electron micrograph revealed that the particles have a hexagonal and spherical shape in nature. EDX showed the surface atomic distribution and chemical composition of NZVI. The decolorization efficiency rose with increasing concentration of nanoparticles as well as with time. Maximal color removal efficiency was 90.72% when using 0.5?g/100?mL Fe nanoparticle for acridine orange. Data revealed that the function of NZVI on color removal efficiency was statistically significant. The correlation coefficient between NZVI concentration and time showed a strong negative correlation for dyes used in the experiment.