Journal of Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering

Journal of Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering

Evaluation of the Efficiency of Chitosan-Supported Mesoporous SBA-15 Nanocomposite for the Removal of Methyl Orange from Aqueous Solutions

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Sara Mehri 1
Mohammad Saleh Shafeeyan 2
Mohammad Habibi Juybari 3
1 M.Sc., Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Golestan University, Aliabad Katoul, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Golestan University, Aliabad Katoul, Iran.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Islamic Azad University, Gorgan Branch, Gorgan, Iran.
10.22112/jwwse.2026.566249.1475
Abstract
Organic dyes released into industrial effluents are considered among the most hazardous pollutants in aquatic environments due to their chemical stability, toxicity, and resistance to biodegradation. In this study, a chitosan-supported mesoporous SBA-15 nanocomposite (CTS/SBA-15) was successfully synthesized and evaluated for the removal of methyl orange from aqueous solutions. The structural and physicochemical properties of the synthesized adsorbent were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, confirming the successful formation of the nanocomposite with desirable surface characteristics. The effects of operational parameters including adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, pH, contact time, and temperature on the adsorption performance were systematically investigated. The results revealed that the adsorption efficiency was strongly influenced by the operating conditions, where decreasing pH, increasing adsorbent dosage, and prolonging contact time enhanced the removal efficiency, while increasing initial dye concentration and temperature reduced the adsorption performance. The maximum methyl orange removal efficiency (approximately 94%) was achieved at pH 5, adsorbent dosage of 0.16 g, contact time of 30 min, temperature of 25 °C, and initial dye concentration of 1 mg L−1. Kinetic investigations demonstrated that the pseudo-second-order model provided the best agreement with the experimental data, indicating the significant role of surface interactions in the adsorption process. In addition, the equilibrium data were better fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 2.39 mg g−1, suggesting monolayer adsorption on the adsorbent surface. Thermodynamic analysis further confirmed the spontaneous and exothermic nature of the adsorption process. Moreover, the CTS/SBA-15 nanocomposite exhibited satisfactory stability and reusability after several adsorption–desorption cycles. Overall, the synthesized CTS/SBA-15 nanocomposite can be considered an effective and reusable adsorbent for the removal of anionic dyes from aqueous environments, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach for dye-contaminated wastewater treatment.
Keywords
Methyl Orange
Chitosan
Mesoporous Nanocomposite
SBA-15
Aqueous Solutions
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Journal of Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering
Volume 11, Issue 2
Summer 2026
Pages 76-98

  • Receive Date 17 December 2025
  • Revise Date 26 May 2026
  • Accept Date 14 July 2026