Synthesis and Characterization of C-Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue in Aqueous Solution

Emmanel Nleonu; Chibuzor Okeke; Pamela Okeke; Onyeuloe Chiemeka

doi:10.54565/jphcfum.1785075

Synthesis and Characterization of C-Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

The presence of methylene blue (MB) dye in wastewater has become a major concern to researchers because of its adverse effect on human health and ecosystems due to its health concern. Therefore, the present study evaluates the efficient removal of MB from an aqueous solution using carbon-doped magnetic iron oxide (C-Fe3O4) nanoparticles synthesized via the co-precipitation method. The synthesized adsorbent was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-visible spectrophotometer. The average particle size of C-Fe3O4 from the XRD peak was 70.26 nm, having an irregular shape. The SEM result revealed large lumps of the adsorbent. The adsorption wavelength was 260 nm with a band gap of 3.78 eV. The removal efficiency of the adsorbent was studied using different operating conditions, such as adsorbent dose, contact time, MB dye concentration, and temperature. The removal efficiency results showed that an increase in adsorbent dose increases the removal efficiency, whereas a rise in contact time, dye concentration, and temperature, respectively, decreases the dye removal efficiency. The isotherm models were applied to the experimental data. The Langmuir model showed the best adsorption model. Furthermore, thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that the removal of MB dye was an exothermic and spontaneous process. Based on the findings of this study, MB dye uptake by C-Fe3O4 nanoparticles was through hydrogen bond formation, Van der Waals interaction, and electrostatic attraction. Therefore, C-Fe3O4 nanoparticles can be used as a potential eco-friendly adsorbent for the removal of MB dye from an aqueous solution.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) with grant number TETF/DR&D/CE/POLY/NEKEDE/IBR/2025/VOL.1.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Catalysis and Mechanisms of Reactions

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Emmanel Nleonu ^*
0000-0003-4083-2226
Nigeria

Chibuzor Okeke This is me
0000-0002-4083-2226
Nigeria

Pamela Okeke This is me
0000-0002-2407-6187
Nigeria

Onyeuloe Chiemeka This is me
0000-0003-4038-2226
Nigeria

Publication Date

June 29, 2026

Submission Date

September 17, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 11, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.54565/jphcfum.1785075

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA36PN73UX

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Nleonu, E., Okeke, C., Okeke, P., & Chiemeka, O. (2026). Synthesis and Characterization of C-Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue in Aqueous Solution. Journal of Physical Chemistry and Functional Materials, 9(1), 11-19. https://doi.org/10.54565/jphcfum.1785075

AMA

1.Nleonu E, Okeke C, Okeke P, Chiemeka O. Synthesis and Characterization of C-Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue in Aqueous Solution. Journal of Physical Chemistry and Functional Materials. 2026;9(1):11-19. doi:10.54565/jphcfum.1785075

Chicago

Nleonu, Emmanel, Chibuzor Okeke, Pamela Okeke, and Onyeuloe Chiemeka. 2026. “Synthesis and Characterization of C-Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue in Aqueous Solution”. Journal of Physical Chemistry and Functional Materials 9 (1): 11-19. https://doi.org/10.54565/jphcfum.1785075.

EndNote

Nleonu E, Okeke C, Okeke P, Chiemeka O (June 1, 2026) Synthesis and Characterization of C-Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue in Aqueous Solution. Journal of Physical Chemistry and Functional Materials 9 1 11–19.

IEEE

[1]E. Nleonu, C. Okeke, P. Okeke, and O. Chiemeka, “Synthesis and Characterization of C-Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue in Aqueous Solution”, Journal of Physical Chemistry and Functional Materials, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 11–19, June 2026, doi: 10.54565/jphcfum.1785075.

ISNAD

Nleonu, Emmanel - Okeke, Chibuzor - Okeke, Pamela - Chiemeka, Onyeuloe. “Synthesis and Characterization of C-Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue in Aqueous Solution”. Journal of Physical Chemistry and Functional Materials 9/1 (June 1, 2026): 11-19. https://doi.org/10.54565/jphcfum.1785075.

JAMA

1.Nleonu E, Okeke C, Okeke P, Chiemeka O. Synthesis and Characterization of C-Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue in Aqueous Solution. Journal of Physical Chemistry and Functional Materials. 2026;9:11–19.

MLA

Nleonu, Emmanel, et al. “Synthesis and Characterization of C-Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue in Aqueous Solution”. Journal of Physical Chemistry and Functional Materials, vol. 9, no. 1, June 2026, pp. 11-19, doi:10.54565/jphcfum.1785075.

Vancouver

1.Emmanel Nleonu, Chibuzor Okeke, Pamela Okeke, Onyeuloe Chiemeka. Synthesis and Characterization of C-Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue in Aqueous Solution. Journal of Physical Chemistry and Functional Materials. 2026 Jun. 1;9(1):11-9. doi:10.54565/jphcfum.1785075