Removal of Synthetic Azo Dye Using Bimetallic Nickel-Iron Nanoparticles

Bimetallic nanoparticles comprised of iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni) were investigated for the removal of an azo dye contaminant in water. Morphology (core shell and alloy) and metal molar ratio (Ni2Fe10, Ni5Fe10, and Ni10Fe10) were tested as key nanoparticle properties. The shelf life of the nanoparticles was tested over a 3-week period, and the effect of initial nanoparticle concentration on dye removal was evaluated. The highest initial nanoparticle concentration (1000mg/L) showed consistent Orange G removal and the greatest extent of dye removal, as compared to the other tested concentrations (i.e., 750mg/L, 500mg/L, and 250mg/L) for the same nanoparticle morphology and metal molar ratio. The metal molar ratio significantly affected the performance of the core shell morphology, where overall dye removal was found to be 66%, 89%, and 98% with an increasing molar ratio (Ni2Fe10 Ni5Fe10 Ni10Fe10). In contrast, the overall removal of the dye for all molar ratios of the alloy nanoparticles only resulted in a variability of +/- 0.005%. When stored in water for 3 weeks, core shell nanoparticles lost reactivity with an average>17% loss in removal with each passing week. However, the alloy nanoparticles were able to continually remove Orange G from solution after 3 weeks of storage to similar to 97% when used at a starting nanoparticle concentration of 1000mg/L. Overall, the Ni2Fe10, Ni5Fe10, and Ni10Fe10 alloy nanoparticles with a starting nanoparticle concentration of 1000mg/L resulted in the greatest dye removal of 97%, 99%, and 98%, respectively. Kinetic rate models were used to analyze dye removal rate constants as a function of nanoparticle properties. Kinetic rate models were seen to differ from core shell (first-order kinetics) to alloy morphology (second-order kinetics). Alloy nanoparticles resulted in as high as X kinetic rate constant, and core shell nanoparticles resulted in as high as XX kinetic rate constant. Metal leaching from the nanoparticles was investigated; alloy nanoparticles resulted in leaching of 3% Fe and 5% Ni which is similar to core shell leaching of 3.2% Fe and 4.3% Ni from the Fe10Ni10 nanoparticles.