• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.412-420
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• 2023

In this study, red mud/fly ash based geopolymer adsorbents (RFGPA) were prepared with calcination temperatures of 200, 400, and 600 ℃, and the effects of these calcination temperatures on the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) were investigated. In addition, the prepared RFGPA was characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and Brunauer-EmmettTeller (BET) analysis. The results of the adsorption kinetics of MB at RFGPA prepared calcination temperatures indicated that the adsorption equilibrium of MB was reached after about 72 h. From the results of the adsorption isotherm, we verified that the degree of adsorption increased with increasing MB concentrations. In addition, the adsorption amount (Q) of MB decreased with an increase in calcination temperature. The experimental adsorption isotherm data were well fitted to the Freundlich and Sips equations compared to the Langmuir equation. In order to verify the effects of photocatalytic decomposition (C/C₀) of MB on Fe₂O₃ present in prepared RFGPA, the degree of decomposition of MB was examined under dark and visible conditions. Results indicated that the decomposition of MB in visible conditions was about 3.0 times faster than that in dark conditions.