Process modeling for Removal of Acid Dye from Environmental Samples by a New Nanocomposite Based on Graphene-Periodic Mesoporous Silica

These days, introducing a new type of sorbents seems to be a great challenge and this issue has become an interesting topic in the field of sample preparation techniques [1]. In this regard, for the first time, a sandwich structure of graphene-periodic mesoporous silica (G-PMS) was synthesized as a novel sorbent. The feasibility of this sorbent in acid blue removal from wastewater samples was investigated through static and column mode studies. The effect of different factors on the dye adsorption in batch experiments, including the amount of sorbent, sorption time, and dye concentration were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) using Box–Behnken design (BBD). The adsorption isotherm could be well fitted by the Freundlich model with acceptable adsorption capacity of 21 mg g-1. Moreover, G-PMS showed higher removal efficiency (R = 89.5%) compared to graphene (R = 62%). Furthermore, a flow-based (column) mode was also performed to study analyte removal using a fixed-bed column. Numerical simulation, using COMSOL Multiphysics, was applied to predict the breakthrough curves. An objective framework was suggested by this model to interpret the efficiency of the developed adsorption system. Also, the obtained results of this model can help to predict the possibility for up scaling and designing of adsorption process at the pilot plant scale level.