Synthesis of Fly Ash and Metakaolin based Geopolymer and its Application
摘要
This study demonstrates the development of lightweight and porous geopolymer spheres as an efficient adsorbent for dye removal from water. The adsorption performance was evaluated under varying conditions of pH, temperature, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and dye concentration. The geopolymer spheres achieved remarkable dye removal efficiencies of 96% for malachite green and 95% for crystal violet, surpassing conventional adsorbents, including graphene oxide. Adsorption equilibrium was best described by the Langmuir model, with maximum capacities of 30 mg/g for malachite green and 5 mg/g for crystal violet. The adsorption process was endothermic, following first-order kinetics, with a higher temperature reducing the time required for optimal performance. The ease of preparation, low cost, and high efficiency of the geopolymer spheres make them a promising alternative to traditional activated carbon, while the use of fly ash in the synthesis enhances the environmental sustainability of this approach. These findings demonstrate not only a practical and eco-friendly method for treating dye-contaminated water but also a scalable pathway to valorize industrial waste into high-value adsorbents, thereby contributing to the advancement of sustainable water treatment technologies and offering significant potential for industrial-scale wastewater remediation and improved waste management practices.