Solvent assisted synthesis of hierarchical magnesium oxide flowers for adsorption of phosphate and methyl orange: Kinetic, isotherm, thermodynamic and removal mechanism

Porous flowers-like magnesium oxide (MgO) was prepared using a facile and low-cost method. The structure, morphology and pore properties of prepared MgO were investigated. The results revealed that as-prepared MgO possesses hierarchical flowers-like structural features with a large surface area of 117.48 m(2) g(-1). Excellent adsorption capacity, towards phosphate and methyl orange, was exhibited by the fabricated MgO having an adsorption capacity of 724 mg g(-1) and 1715 mg g(-1) for phosphate and methyl orange respectively. The experimental data better fitted the pseudo-second-order and Freundlich isotherm model demonstrating multi-layer adsorption of pollutants onto MgO adsorbent with endothermic nature. In five consecutive adsorptions/ desorption cycles, the regenerated particles retained their adsorption performance. This work provides a pathway for the large-scale development of efficient adsorbent materials to overcome the sustainable problems.