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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/ETERM/15
Nanocomposite of quinoa biochar with MnO sequesters congo red dye effectively from
contaminated water: a batch scale study

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1
1*
Dr. Muhammad Imran , Muhammad Mohsin Iqbal , Dr. Muhammad Amjad , Dr. Behzad
1
Murtaza
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari- Campus,
61100 Pakistan
Correspondence: imranrb@cuivehari.edu.pk

Abstract
Dyes are very problematic because of their complex aromatic compounds and persistent nature.
Dyes are widely used, and their untreated effluents are dumped into water bodies, causing harm
to the ecology. The goal of this work is to investigate the batch scale potential of quinoa biochar
(QBC) and its composite with manganese oxide nanoparticles (QBC/MnO) for
decontamination of Congo red dye (CR) from wastewater. The QBC and QBC/MnO were
characterized with FTIR, SEM and EDX to understand the mechanism behind the difference
in their adsorption potential for the decontamination of CR from water. The impact of initial
CR concentration (25–500 mg/L), QBC and QBC/MnO dose (0.5–2 g/L), solution pH (2–8),
and contact time (0–180 min) was studied. Results reveal that QBC/MnO exhibits excellent
adsorption of CR (328.89 mg/g) from contaminated water as compared with only QBC (103.8
mg/g). This difference in CR removal between QBC/MnO and QBC is also confirmed with
improved characteristics of QBC/MnO. The simulation results show that equilibrium and
kinetic adsorption experimental data best fitted with Freundlich and Pseudo second order
models, respectively. The current study found that a metallic nanocomposite (QBC/MnO) is
an ideal option for the cost-effective and environmentally friendly removal of CR from
wastewater, and that it should be investigated for the removal of other contaminants as well.

Key words: Nanocomposite, CR, QBC/MnO

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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