Removal of Congo Red dye, polar and non-polar compounds from aqueous solution using magnesium aluminate nanoparticles

Abstract Magnesium aluminate nanoparticles were prepared by the sol–gel autocombustion method using mixture of alanine and urea as a fuel. The sample was characterized using XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, and IR spectroscopy. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of single-phase spinel compound with average particle size of 28 nm estimated from FE-SEM analysis. IR spectrum revealed the stretching vibration of MA-O and MB-O bonds at 517 and 691 cm−1 respectively. The adsorption process of Congo Red dye on the spinel surface was studied under static conditions using UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity obtained from the Langmuir model was calculated 24.5 mg∙g−1. In addition, the salicylic acid and mixture of polyaromatic hydrocarbons as polar and nonpolar compounds, respectively, were used to investigate the adsorption properties of MgAl2O4 by liquid chromatography (UFLC) analysis. The results suggest that the magnesium aluminate can be used as efficient adsorbent for anionic dyes and polar compounds due tothe presence of active centers on its surface.