Biochar supported CuFe layered double hydroxide composite as a sustainable adsorbent for efficient removal of anionic azo dye from water

This study reports the synthesis of date palm waste-derived biochar (B) supported CuFe layered double hydroxides (CuFe LDH) composite by facile co-precipitation method. The adsorption performance of B-CuFe composite was evaluated for the removal of Eriochrome black T (EBT), as a model anionic azo dye, from the aqueous phase. The B-CuFe composites were characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM-EDX and BET techniques. Characterization results revealed the synergistic effect of biochar and CuFe LDH has resulted in substantial improvement in physicochemical characteristics (i.e. surface functionality, surface area and surface morphology) of B-CuFe composite, which promotes rapid and improved adsorption of (EBT) from the solution. The B-CuFe composite with 2.5 g loading of biochar onto CuFe LDH - showed better adsorption performance than that of other B-CuFe composites. The adsorption process of EBT onto B-CuFe composite was well described by the RSM models (with R²=0.964–0.999). Acidic pH (2–5) and higher temperature favored the adsorption of EBT onto B-CuFe composite, and almost (70–85%) of EBT was removed from the water within the first 15 min. The highest adsorption capacity, 565.32 mg/g of EBT onto B-CuFe composite, was obtained at pH 2.5 and 45 °C. The adsorption mechanism associated with the strong electrostatic and chemical interactions of EBT sulfonated anions (SO₃⁻) with protonated hydroxyl surface groups (OH₂⁺) of B-CuFe composite. The B-CuFe composite exhibited better EBT removal in the presence of co-existing anions and demonstrated excellent reusability performance (11% reduction) after five successive cycles. The results demonstrated that the B-CuFe composite has a great potential to be employed as a sustainable and cost-effective adsorbent for the purification of dye contaminated water bodies.