As the demand for fresh water increases and resources dwindle, the search for new water purification methods has become an increasingly urgent effort. Currently, some of the most common water pollutants are dyes, which oftentimes go untreated and are released into rivers and streams by establishments that deal with textiles, inks, papers, and plastics. Azo dyes, characterized by a double nitrogen bond, constitute a large portion of these wastes, and are often toxic. This study examines the ability of bimetallic iron-nickel nanoparticles to degrade a nontoxic model azo dye, Orange G, through breaking this bond. The ratio of iron to nickel in the nanoparticles, the initial ratio of nanoparticles to dye in the test solution, and the pH at which the experiment is conducted will all be tested. Bimetallic nanoparticles of 1:50, 1:100, 1:500, and 1:1000 mol Fe:mmol Ni ratios as well as zero-valent iron nanoparticles were synthesized using a sodium borohydride reduction, core-shell method. These were then tested in aqueous batch reactions with Orange G Dye, and samples of the dye-nanoparticle solution were taken at intervals throughout test. Samples were then read using a UV-Vis plate reader in order to determine the dye concentration at each time point. This process will be repeated at various solution pH levels. The process was most effective using greater ratios of nanoparticles to dye as well as greater ratios of nickel to iron. Both resulted in a greater rate and degree of degradation. It is expected that pH will also have an effect on dye degradation, and that a range of pH’s at which the process is most effective will be found. Optimum conditions for azo dye degradation using iron-nickel nanoparticles will be determined, as a step towards potential industrial applications in the future.

Orange G dye degredation using iron-nickel nanoparticles: Effect of iron to nickel ratio, concentration and pH

249th National Meeting (2015)

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