Adsorption of Malachite Green Dye onto Bagasse Ash-Based Silica Aerogel/MgO Composite: Kinetic, Isotherm, and Thermodynamic Studies
Article Sidebar
Keywords:
-
Silica Aerogel/MgO Composite, Malachite Green, Adsorption
Abstract
A silica aerogel/MgO composite synthesized from bagasse ash was investigated as a biomass-derived adsorbent for the removal of malachite green from aqueous solutions. The adsorption performance was systematically assessed through operational parameters, adsorption kinetics, equilibrium isotherms, and thermodynamic analyses. Comparative experiments demonstrated the superior adsorption capability of the silica aerogel/MgO composite relative to pristine silica aerogel, with adsorption capacities of 96.93 and 22.12 mg/g, respectively, recorded under the same experimental conditions, highlighting the beneficial interaction between the porous silica framework and MgO active sites. Equilibrium was attained after 80 min of contact time, and under optimum conditions, the composite achieved an adsorption capacity of 123.19 mg/g at 45°C with an initial dye concentration of 55 mg/L, while the highest removal efficiency (90.93%) was obtained at pH 9. Kinetic analysis revealed that the pseudo-second-order model most accurately represented the experimental data, yielding an R² value of 0.9923. Equilibrium studies further indicated that the Freundlich isotherm provided the best fit (R² = 0.9965–0.9973), suggesting adsorption on energetically heterogeneous surfaces with the possibility of multilayer uptake. Thermodynamic evaluation confirmed that the adsorption process occurred spontaneously and was favored at elevated temperatures, as evidenced by negative Gibbs free energy values (ΔG° = −4.68 to −6.29 kJ/mol), positive enthalpy changes (ΔH° = 12.46–15.29 kJ/mol), and positive entropy values (ΔS° = 58.76–67.10 J/mol·K). Overall, the results demonstrate the strong potential of the bagasse ash-derived silica aerogel/MgO composite as an efficient and sustainable adsorbent for the removal of cationic dyes from water.
References
Abate, G. Y., A. N. Alene, A. T. Habte, and D. M. Getahun (2020). Adsorptive Removal of Malachite Green Dye from Aqueous Solution onto Activated Carbon of Catha edulis Stem as a Low-Cost Bio-Adsorbent. Environmental Systems Research, 9(1); 29.
Abu Elella, M. H., E. S. Goda, H. Gamal, S. M. El-Bahy, M. A. Nour, and K. R. Yoon (2021). Green Antimicrobial Adsorbent Containing Grafted Xanthan Gum/SiO₂ Nanocomposites for Malachite Green Dye. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 191; 385–395.
Agustina, Y., Hamidah, and Nazriati (2022). Reducing Textile Dyes from Liquid Waste Using ZnO/Silica Aerogel Nanocomposites. In AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 2638; 100007.
Akram, M., R. Rehman, G. Samin, Z. T. Al-Thagafi, M. E. Al-Hazemi, and E. A. Al-Abbad (2023). Decontamination of Malachite Green and Victoria Blue-B Dyes by High-Speed Photo-Catalyzer Reactor Using Titania and Zinc Oxide as Catalysts. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 53; 103757.
Al-Wasidi, A. S., E. A. Abdelrahman, R. K. Shah, N. A. Abdelhakim, and F. A. Saad (2024). Facile Synthesis of Novel Nanocomposite Composed of Co₃O₄, MgO, and Mg₃B₂O₆ for Malachite Green Dye Decontamination from Aqueous Media. Scientific Reports, 14(1); 30570.
Amri, A., A. Lesbani, and R. Mohadi (2023). Malachite Green Dye Adsorption from Aqueous Solution Using a Ni/Al Layered Double Hydroxide-Graphene Oxide Composite Material. Science and Technology Indonesia, 8(2); 280–287.
Azhar, I. M., N. Nazriati, and I. K. Kusumaningrum (2025). Utilization of Bagasse Ash for the Preparation of Silica Aerogel/MgO Composites Through Ambient-Pressure Drying. Walisongo Journal of Chemistry, 8(2); 251–258.
Benjelloun, M., Y. Miyah, G. A. Evrendilek, F. Zerrouq, and S. Lairini (2021). Recent Advances in Adsorption Kinetic Models: Their Application to Dye Types. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 14(4); 103031.
Budnyak, T. M., M. Błachnio, A. Slabon, A. Jaworski, V. A. Tertykh, A. Deryło-Marczewska, and A. W. Marczewski (2020). Chitosan Deposited onto Fumed Silica Surface as Sustainable Hybrid Biosorbent for Acid Orange 8 Dye Capture: Effect of Temperature in Adsorption Equilibrium and Kinetics. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 124(28); 15312–15323.
Chakraborty, S., A. Mukherjee, S. Das, N. R. Maddela, S. Iram, and P. Das (2021). Study on Isotherm, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics of Adsorption of Crystal Violet Dye by Calcium Oxide Modified Fly Ash. Environmental Engineering Research, 26(1); 190372.
Chouchane, T., A. Boukari, O. Khireddine, S. Chibani, and S. Chouchane (2023). Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics of Batch Adsorption of Mn(II) Ions on Blast Furnace Slag (BFS) and Kaolin (KGA). Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 70; 58.
Foo, K. Y. and B. H. Hameed (2010). Insights into the Modeling of Adsorption Isotherm Systems. Chemical Engineering Journal, 156(1); 2–10.
Gaur, B., J. Mittal, H. Hassan, A. Mittal, and R. T. Baker (2024). Ordered Mesoporous Carbon as Adsorbent for the Removal of a Triphenylmethane Dye from Its Aqueous Solutions. Molecules, 29(17); 4100.
Ghoniem, M. G., F. A. M. Ali, B. Y. Abdulkhair, M. R. A. Elamin, A. M. Alqahtani, S. Rahali, and M. A. Ben Aissa (2022). Highly Selective Removal of Cationic Dyes from Wastewater by MgO Nanorods. Nanomaterials, 12(6); 1023.
Gui, C. X., Q. J. Li, L. L. Lv, J. Qu, Q. Q. Wang, S. M. Hao, and Z. Z. Yu (2015). Core–Shell Structured MgO@Mesoporous Silica Spheres for Enhanced Adsorption of Methylene Blue and Lead Ions. RSC Advances, 5(26); 20440–20445.
Hamad, M. T. M. H. (2023). Optimization Study of the Adsorption of Malachite Green Removal by MgO Nano-Composite, Nano-Bentonite and Fungal Immobilization on Active Carbon Using Response Surface Methodology and Kinetic Study. Environmental Sciences Europe, 35(1); 1–37.
Hubbe, M. A., S. Azizian, and S. Douven (2019). Implications of Apparent Pseudo-Second-Order Adsorption Kinetics onto Cellulosic Materials: A Review. BioResources, 14(3); 7582–7626.
Jomardani, F., R. Shakeri, R. Akbarzadeh, and S. N. Kokhdan (2026). Adsorption Kinetics and Isotherms of Malachite Green Removal from Aqueous Solution Using TiO₂-Loaded on f-MWCNTs Nanocomposite. Scientific Reports, 16(1); 8567.
Li, J., X. Dong, X. Liu, X. Xu, W. Duan, J. Park, and Y. Lu (2022). Comparative Study on the Adsorption Characteristics of Heavy Metal Ions by Activated Carbon and Selected Natural Adsorbents. Sustainability, 14(23); 15579.
Liu, X., Y. Wu, W. Zhao, Z. Wu, H. Han, Z. Xie, and T. H. Ko (2023). Adsorption of Malachite Green from Aqueous Phase by Tea Stalk Powder: Parameters, Kinetic, Isothermal, and Thermodynamic Studies. BioResources, 18(3); 6364–6383.
Mahinroosta, M., R. M. Moattari, A. Allahverdi, and P. Ghadir (2024). Malachite Green Dye Removal with Aluminosilicate Nanopowder from Aluminum Dross and Silicomanganese Slag. Circular Economy, 3(3); 100100.
Mashkoor, F., A. Nasar, Inamuddin, and A. M. Asiri (2018). Exploring the Reusability of Synthetically Contaminated Wastewater Containing Crystal Violet Dye Using Tectona grandis Sawdust as a Very Low-Cost Adsorbent. Scientific Reports, 8; 8314.
Murphy, O. P., M. Vashishtha, P. Palanisamy, and K. V. Kumar (2023). A Review on the Adsorption Isotherms and Design Calculations for the Optimization of Adsorbent Mass and Contact Time. ACS Omega, 8(20); 17407–17430.
Nazriati, N., H. Setyawan, S. Affandi, M. Yuwana, and S. Winardi (2014). Using Bagasse Ash as a Silica Source When Preparing Silica Aerogels via Ambient Pressure Drying. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 400; 6–11.
Obulapuram, P. K., T. Arfin, F. Mohammad, S. K. Khiste, M. Chavali, A. N. Albalawi, and H. A. Al-Lohedan (2021). Adsorption, Equilibrium Isotherm, and Thermodynamic Studies Towards the Removal of Reactive Orange 16 Dye Using Cu(I)-Polyaniline Composite. Polymers, 13(20); 3490.
Pandey, S., J. Y. Do, J. Kim, and M. Kang (2020). Fast and Highly Efficient Catalytic Degradation of Dyes Using κ-Carrageenan Stabilized Silver Nanoparticles Nanocatalyst. Carbohydrate Polymers, 230; 115597.
Raval, N. P., P. U. Shah, and N. K. Shah (2016). Nanoparticles Loaded Biopolymer as Effective Adsorbent for Adsorptive Removal of Malachite Green from Aqueous Solution. Water Conservation Science and Engineering, 1; 69–81.
Raval, N. P., P. U. Shah, and N. K. Shah (2017). Malachite Green: A Cationic Dye and Its Removal from Aqueous Solution by Adsorption. Applied Water Science, 7; 3407–3445.
Sen, T. K. (2023). Agricultural Solid Wastes Based Adsorbent Materials in the Remediation of Heavy Metal Ions from Water and Wastewater by Adsorption: A Review. Molecules, 28(14); 5575.
Shoaib, A. G., S. Ragab, A. El Sikaily, M. Yılmaz, and A. El Nemr (2023). Thermodynamic, Kinetic, and Isotherm Studies of Direct Blue 86 Dye Adsorption by Cellulose Hydrogel. Scientific Reports, 13; 5910.
Tarekegn, M. M., R. M. Balakrishnan, A. M. Hiruy, and A. H. Dekebo (2021). Removal of Methylene Blue Dye Using Nano Zerovalent Iron, Nanoclay and Iron Impregnated Nanoclay: A Comparative Study. RSC Advances, 11(48); 30109–30131.
Thommes, M., K. Kaneko, A. V. Neimark, J. P. Olivier, F. Rodriguez-Reinoso, J. Rouquerol, and K. S. W. Sing (2015). Physisorption of Gases, with Special Reference to the Evaluation of Surface Area and Pore Size Distribution (IUPAC Technical Report). Pure and Applied Chemistry, 87(9–10); 1051–1069.
Umeh, C. T., A. B. Akinyele, N. H. Okoye, S. S. Emmanuel, K. O. Iwuozor, I. P. Oyekunle, J. O. Ocheje, and J. O. Ighalo (2023). Recent Approach in the Application of Nanoadsorbents for Malachite Green (MG) Dye Uptake from Contaminated Water: A Critical Review. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management, 20; 100891.
Wang, M., Y. Jiao, N. Li, and Y. Su (2023). Synthesis of a SiO₂-MgO Composite Material Derived from Yellow Phosphorus Slag with Excellent Malachite Green Adsorption Activity. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 969; 172344.
You, X., R. Zhou, Y. Zhu, D. Bu, and D. Cheng (2022). Adsorption of Dyes Methyl Violet and Malachite Green from Aqueous Solution on Multi-Step Modified Rice Husk Powder in Single and Binary Systems: Characterization, Adsorption Behavior and Physical Interpretations. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 430; 128445.
Abu Elella, M. H., E. S. Goda, H. Gamal, S. M. El-Bahy, M. A. Nour, and K. R. Yoon (2021). Green Antimicrobial Adsorbent Containing Grafted Xanthan Gum/SiO₂ Nanocomposites for Malachite Green Dye. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 191; 385–395.
Agustina, Y., Hamidah, and Nazriati (2022). Reducing Textile Dyes from Liquid Waste Using ZnO/Silica Aerogel Nanocomposites. In AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 2638; 100007.
Akram, M., R. Rehman, G. Samin, Z. T. Al-Thagafi, M. E. Al-Hazemi, and E. A. Al-Abbad (2023). Decontamination of Malachite Green and Victoria Blue-B Dyes by High-Speed Photo-Catalyzer Reactor Using Titania and Zinc Oxide as Catalysts. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 53; 103757.
Al-Wasidi, A. S., E. A. Abdelrahman, R. K. Shah, N. A. Abdelhakim, and F. A. Saad (2024). Facile Synthesis of Novel Nanocomposite Composed of Co₃O₄, MgO, and Mg₃B₂O₆ for Malachite Green Dye Decontamination from Aqueous Media. Scientific Reports, 14(1); 30570.
Amri, A., A. Lesbani, and R. Mohadi (2023). Malachite Green Dye Adsorption from Aqueous Solution Using a Ni/Al Layered Double Hydroxide-Graphene Oxide Composite Material. Science and Technology Indonesia, 8(2); 280–287.
Azhar, I. M., N. Nazriati, and I. K. Kusumaningrum (2025). Utilization of Bagasse Ash for the Preparation of Silica Aerogel/MgO Composites Through Ambient-Pressure Drying. Walisongo Journal of Chemistry, 8(2); 251–258.
Benjelloun, M., Y. Miyah, G. A. Evrendilek, F. Zerrouq, and S. Lairini (2021). Recent Advances in Adsorption Kinetic Models: Their Application to Dye Types. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 14(4); 103031.
Budnyak, T. M., M. Błachnio, A. Slabon, A. Jaworski, V. A. Tertykh, A. Deryło-Marczewska, and A. W. Marczewski (2020). Chitosan Deposited onto Fumed Silica Surface as Sustainable Hybrid Biosorbent for Acid Orange 8 Dye Capture: Effect of Temperature in Adsorption Equilibrium and Kinetics. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 124(28); 15312–15323.
Chakraborty, S., A. Mukherjee, S. Das, N. R. Maddela, S. Iram, and P. Das (2021). Study on Isotherm, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics of Adsorption of Crystal Violet Dye by Calcium Oxide Modified Fly Ash. Environmental Engineering Research, 26(1); 190372.
Chouchane, T., A. Boukari, O. Khireddine, S. Chibani, and S. Chouchane (2023). Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics of Batch Adsorption of Mn(II) Ions on Blast Furnace Slag (BFS) and Kaolin (KGA). Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 70; 58.
Foo, K. Y. and B. H. Hameed (2010). Insights into the Modeling of Adsorption Isotherm Systems. Chemical Engineering Journal, 156(1); 2–10.
Gaur, B., J. Mittal, H. Hassan, A. Mittal, and R. T. Baker (2024). Ordered Mesoporous Carbon as Adsorbent for the Removal of a Triphenylmethane Dye from Its Aqueous Solutions. Molecules, 29(17); 4100.
Ghoniem, M. G., F. A. M. Ali, B. Y. Abdulkhair, M. R. A. Elamin, A. M. Alqahtani, S. Rahali, and M. A. Ben Aissa (2022). Highly Selective Removal of Cationic Dyes from Wastewater by MgO Nanorods. Nanomaterials, 12(6); 1023.
Gui, C. X., Q. J. Li, L. L. Lv, J. Qu, Q. Q. Wang, S. M. Hao, and Z. Z. Yu (2015). Core–Shell Structured MgO@Mesoporous Silica Spheres for Enhanced Adsorption of Methylene Blue and Lead Ions. RSC Advances, 5(26); 20440–20445.
Hamad, M. T. M. H. (2023). Optimization Study of the Adsorption of Malachite Green Removal by MgO Nano-Composite, Nano-Bentonite and Fungal Immobilization on Active Carbon Using Response Surface Methodology and Kinetic Study. Environmental Sciences Europe, 35(1); 1–37.
Hubbe, M. A., S. Azizian, and S. Douven (2019). Implications of Apparent Pseudo-Second-Order Adsorption Kinetics onto Cellulosic Materials: A Review. BioResources, 14(3); 7582–7626.
Jomardani, F., R. Shakeri, R. Akbarzadeh, and S. N. Kokhdan (2026). Adsorption Kinetics and Isotherms of Malachite Green Removal from Aqueous Solution Using TiO₂-Loaded on f-MWCNTs Nanocomposite. Scientific Reports, 16(1); 8567.
Li, J., X. Dong, X. Liu, X. Xu, W. Duan, J. Park, and Y. Lu (2022). Comparative Study on the Adsorption Characteristics of Heavy Metal Ions by Activated Carbon and Selected Natural Adsorbents. Sustainability, 14(23); 15579.
Liu, X., Y. Wu, W. Zhao, Z. Wu, H. Han, Z. Xie, and T. H. Ko (2023). Adsorption of Malachite Green from Aqueous Phase by Tea Stalk Powder: Parameters, Kinetic, Isothermal, and Thermodynamic Studies. BioResources, 18(3); 6364–6383.
Mahinroosta, M., R. M. Moattari, A. Allahverdi, and P. Ghadir (2024). Malachite Green Dye Removal with Aluminosilicate Nanopowder from Aluminum Dross and Silicomanganese Slag. Circular Economy, 3(3); 100100.
Mashkoor, F., A. Nasar, Inamuddin, and A. M. Asiri (2018). Exploring the Reusability of Synthetically Contaminated Wastewater Containing Crystal Violet Dye Using Tectona grandis Sawdust as a Very Low-Cost Adsorbent. Scientific Reports, 8; 8314.
Murphy, O. P., M. Vashishtha, P. Palanisamy, and K. V. Kumar (2023). A Review on the Adsorption Isotherms and Design Calculations for the Optimization of Adsorbent Mass and Contact Time. ACS Omega, 8(20); 17407–17430.
Nazriati, N., H. Setyawan, S. Affandi, M. Yuwana, and S. Winardi (2014). Using Bagasse Ash as a Silica Source When Preparing Silica Aerogels via Ambient Pressure Drying. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 400; 6–11.
Obulapuram, P. K., T. Arfin, F. Mohammad, S. K. Khiste, M. Chavali, A. N. Albalawi, and H. A. Al-Lohedan (2021). Adsorption, Equilibrium Isotherm, and Thermodynamic Studies Towards the Removal of Reactive Orange 16 Dye Using Cu(I)-Polyaniline Composite. Polymers, 13(20); 3490.
Pandey, S., J. Y. Do, J. Kim, and M. Kang (2020). Fast and Highly Efficient Catalytic Degradation of Dyes Using κ-Carrageenan Stabilized Silver Nanoparticles Nanocatalyst. Carbohydrate Polymers, 230; 115597.
Raval, N. P., P. U. Shah, and N. K. Shah (2016). Nanoparticles Loaded Biopolymer as Effective Adsorbent for Adsorptive Removal of Malachite Green from Aqueous Solution. Water Conservation Science and Engineering, 1; 69–81.
Raval, N. P., P. U. Shah, and N. K. Shah (2017). Malachite Green: A Cationic Dye and Its Removal from Aqueous Solution by Adsorption. Applied Water Science, 7; 3407–3445.
Sen, T. K. (2023). Agricultural Solid Wastes Based Adsorbent Materials in the Remediation of Heavy Metal Ions from Water and Wastewater by Adsorption: A Review. Molecules, 28(14); 5575.
Shoaib, A. G., S. Ragab, A. El Sikaily, M. Yılmaz, and A. El Nemr (2023). Thermodynamic, Kinetic, and Isotherm Studies of Direct Blue 86 Dye Adsorption by Cellulose Hydrogel. Scientific Reports, 13; 5910.
Tarekegn, M. M., R. M. Balakrishnan, A. M. Hiruy, and A. H. Dekebo (2021). Removal of Methylene Blue Dye Using Nano Zerovalent Iron, Nanoclay and Iron Impregnated Nanoclay: A Comparative Study. RSC Advances, 11(48); 30109–30131.
Thommes, M., K. Kaneko, A. V. Neimark, J. P. Olivier, F. Rodriguez-Reinoso, J. Rouquerol, and K. S. W. Sing (2015). Physisorption of Gases, with Special Reference to the Evaluation of Surface Area and Pore Size Distribution (IUPAC Technical Report). Pure and Applied Chemistry, 87(9–10); 1051–1069.
Umeh, C. T., A. B. Akinyele, N. H. Okoye, S. S. Emmanuel, K. O. Iwuozor, I. P. Oyekunle, J. O. Ocheje, and J. O. Ighalo (2023). Recent Approach in the Application of Nanoadsorbents for Malachite Green (MG) Dye Uptake from Contaminated Water: A Critical Review. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management, 20; 100891.
Wang, M., Y. Jiao, N. Li, and Y. Su (2023). Synthesis of a SiO₂-MgO Composite Material Derived from Yellow Phosphorus Slag with Excellent Malachite Green Adsorption Activity. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 969; 172344.
You, X., R. Zhou, Y. Zhu, D. Bu, and D. Cheng (2022). Adsorption of Dyes Methyl Violet and Malachite Green from Aqueous Solution on Multi-Step Modified Rice Husk Powder in Single and Binary Systems: Characterization, Adsorption Behavior and Physical Interpretations. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 430; 128445.
Authors
Nazriati, N., Meilidya Azhar, I., & Kartika Kusumaningrum, I. (2026). Adsorption of Malachite Green Dye onto Bagasse Ash-Based Silica Aerogel/MgO Composite: Kinetic, Isotherm, and Thermodynamic Studies. Science and Technology Indonesia, 11(3), 1241–1256. https://doi.org/10.26554/sti.2026.11.3.1241-1256
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.