LAUSR

Pectin-starch magnetite hybrid nanoparticles were fabricated, characterized, and evaluated as potential absorbents for methylene blue dye based on recycling water from the textile industry. The nanocomposite adsorbent was synthesized with the iron salt coprecipitation method, and the precipitates obtained were sponge-like. The effects of a pectin : starch ratio in the absorbent and the amount of methylene blue adsorbed were investigated. The nanocomposites obtained were characterized using a Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), before and after methylene blue adsorption. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra provided the evidence that the starch-pectin iron oxide hybrid nanoparticles were successfully synthesized. It also indicated that the hybrid nanoparticles actually absorbed the methylene blue dye from the effluent. PXRD results showed that the synthesized hybrid composite adopted the spinel microstructure of Fe3O4 though the crystallinity of the composite decreased with an increase in the pectin : starch ratio. Furthermore, calculations based on PXRD showed that the synthesized powders were nanoparticles. The amount of adsorbed dye by hybrid adsorbent increased with an increase in the starch : pectin ratio, and the increase was better observed at a low polymer concentration of 18%. The amount of adsorbed dye by hybrid adsorbent was high at high pH and low at low pH value which attested to the ion exchange and electrostatic force mechanism during the adsorption process. Finally, the capacity of the absorbent decreased with an increase in temperature.