Preparation of Composite Nanofibers with M-Type Nickel Ferrite and Graphene Oxide and Investigation of Their Application in Dye Pollutant Adsorption

Introduction: Water contamination by synthetic dyes from industrial effluents presents a severe threat to ecosystems and public health. There is a critical need for the development of efficient, sustainable, and easily separable adsorbents to remove these pollutants. This study focuses on synthesizing and evaluating a novel magnetic nanocomposite adsorbent that combines the high adsorption capacity of graphene oxide (GO) with the magnetic properties of nickel ferrite for the effective removal of dye pollutants from wastewater.

Methods: Magnetic M-type nickel ferrite (NiFe₁₉O₂₀) nanoparticles were first synthesized via a combustion method. Subsequently, composite nanofibers were fabricated by incorporating these nanoparticles and graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets into a polymer matrix using the electrospinning technique. The resulting NiFe₁₉O₂₀/GO composite nanofibers were thoroughly characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, FT-IR, and VSM. Their adsorption performance was evaluated using Methylene Blue (MB) as a model cationic dye.

Results: The characterization results confirmed the successful integration of NiFe₁₉O₂₀ nanoparticles and GO nanosheets within the nanofiber matrix. The composite exhibited excellent superparamagnetic properties, allowing for rapid separation from water using an external magnet.

Conclusions: The NiFe₁₉O₂₀/GO composite nanofibers successfully combine the exceptional adsorption capacity of GO, provided by its high surface area and functional groups, with the superb magnetic separability of nickel ferrite. This study conclusively demonstrates that this material is a highly effective, reusable, and easily retrievable adsorbent. It presents a promising and sustainable solution for the advanced treatment of dye-laden wastewater, offering significant potential for environmental remediation applications.