Preparation and evaluation of alginate nanocomposite containing clay and zein to remove tartrazine dye from aqueous solution

Authors

• Shiva Shahveh ¹
• Negar Motakef-Kazemi * ²
• Sara Hallajian ³

1. Department of Nanobiomimetic, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2. Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3. Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The use of clay-based nanocomposites as bioadsorbents was considered in this research due to their high mechanical and chemical stable properties, cheapness, compatibility, and abundance in nature. Thermal solution method was used to produce montmorilonite-alginate-zein (MMTALgZ) nanocomposites to remove tartazine dye. Zein and alginate polymers were used to modify the surface of clay. The samples were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. The effects of temperature, amount of nanoadsorbent, and contact time on the removal efficiency were investigated. Based on the results, increasing the time (180 min), decreasing the amount of sample (0.1 g) and increasing the temperature (90 ºC) increased the absorption of nanocomposite. Also, the nanocomposite is used as a bioadsorbent for the decolorization of tartrazine as azo dye. For the optimal sample, more than 97% of the tartrazine dye was adsorbed by the MMT AlgZ nanocomposite was done in a much shorter time. Hence, nanocomposite-based nanobiosorbent can be a good candidate for adsorption and decolorization of various azo dyes.

Keywords

• Alginate
• Clay
• Tartrazine
• Zein
• Nanocomposite