Cost-effective zinc ferrite-functionalized hydroxyethyl cellulose/chitosan film for efficient removal of methyl orange dye from aqueous solutions

The increasing contamination of water bodies with toxic dyes, particularly methyl orange (MO), has become a significant environmental challenge. In this study, we present an adsorbent, zinc ferrite-loaded hydroxyethyl cellulose/chitosan film (ZnFe2O4@HEC/Cs), designed for the efficient removal of MO dye from aqueous solutions. These composites combine the magnetic properties of ZnFe2O4 with the biocompatibility of HEC and Cs, forming a robust material with excellent MO dye adsorption capabilities. For comparison, three different concentrations of ZnFe2O4 (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 g) were added to the HEC/Cs solution prior to the film preparations. These prepared films that loaded with the different concentrations of ZnFe2O4 were nominated as 1ZnFe2O4@HEC/Cs, 2ZnFe2O4@HEC/Cs, and 3ZnFe2O4@HEC/Cs films and compared with the films (HEC/Cs) that prepared without ZnFe2O4 loading. The prepared films (1ZnFe2O4@HEC/Cs, 2ZnFe2O4@HEC/Cs, and 3ZnFe2O4@HEC/Cs) exhibited rough morphological surface. The influence of various parameters such as pH, dye concentration, adsorbent dose, and contact time were systematically explored to optimize the adsorption conditions. Compared to pure HEC/Cs (199 mg/g), the adsorption power of MO dye sequestration in the presence of 3ZnFe2O4@HEC/Cs was 288 mg/g. The experimental results are described by chemical kinetics with a pseudo-second order. The Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models were employed to analyze the experimental results indicating multilayer adsorption of MO dye. The results reveal that the ZnFe2O4@HEC/Cs composite demonstrates a rapid adsorption rate and high dye removal efficiency, with the ability to maintain its performance even in the presence of common contaminants. Moreover, the composite can be easily regenerated, offering a sustainable solution for dye removal in wastewater treatment. This study provides valuable insights into designing advanced, environmentally friendly adsorbents to remove dyes from polluted water. The exceptional performance and reusability of ZnFe2O4@HEC/Cs films highlight their potential for large-scale wastewater treatment applications.