A novel nanocomposite of aminated silica nanotube (MWCNT/Si/NH2) and its potential on adsorption of nitrite

Several parts of the world have been facing the problem of nitrite and nitrate contamination in ground and surface water. The acute toxicity of nitrite has been shown to be 10-fold higher than that of nitrate. In the present study, aminated silica carbon nanotube (ASCNT) was synthesised and tested for nitrite removal. The synergistic effects rendered by both amine and silica in ASCNT have significantly improved the nitrite removal efficiency. The IEP increased from 2.91 for pristine carbon nanotube (CNT) to 8.15 for ASCNT, and the surface area also increased from 178.86 to 548.21 m2 g-1. These properties have promoted ASCNT a novel adsorbent to remove nitrite. At optimum conditions of 700 ppm of nitrite concentration at pH 7 and 5 h of contact with 15 mg of adsorbent, the ASCNT achieved the maximal loading capacity of 396 mg/g (85% nitrite removal). The removal data of nitrite onto ASCNT fitted the Langmuir isotherm model better than the Freundlich isotherm model with the highest regression value of 0.98415, and also, the nonlinear analysis of kinetics data showed that the removal of nitrite followed pseudo-second-order kinetic. The positive values of both ΔS° and ΔH° suggested an endothermic reaction and an increase in randomness at the solid-liquid interface. The negative ΔG° values indicated a spontaneous adsorption process. The ASCNT was characterised using FESEM-EDX and FTIR, and the results obtained confirmed the removal of nitrite. Based on the findings, ASCNT can be considered as a novel and promising candidate for the removal of nitrite ions from wastewater.