Metallurgical slag properties as a support material for bimetallic nanoparticles and their use in the removal of malachite green dye

Fe-Cu oxides nanoparticles (Nps) were embedded in two steel slag wastes (SSB and SSW) to develop SSB/Fe-Cu and SSW/Fe-Cu nanocomposites. Nps with mean sizes between 10-20 and 6-10 nm on SSW and SSB, respectively are agglomeration with a different shape. Their characteristics were investigated by XRD, TEM, BET, SEM techniques. The Nps modified the morphology of both support materials. XRD pointed out the presence of Cu and Fe. The proportion of Cu concentration was higher than the one of Fe. Nanocomposites were tested in malachite green removal from aqueous solution. The adsorption kinetic indicated physisorption and chemisorption as the main mechanisms of adsorption. The adsorption capacities were 88.26 and 63.55 mg/g for SSW/Fe-Cu and SSB/Fe-Cu, respectively. This novel, easy to prepare and low-cost nanocomposites is an efficient adsorbent material. The presence of calcium compounds may improve Nps deposition an MG removal. Materials with ferric phases are not as efficient as the first one; Fe is not well supported on the material. The removal of MG took place by dye structure modification and by interactions with Cu nanoparticles improving the oxidation-reduction process, through synergic effects. (C) 2020 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.