Preparation and characterization of MnO2-based nanoparticles at different annealing temperatures and their application in dye removal from water

In this research, manganese oxides (MnO2) nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal method using KMnO4 as a precursor. The final brown-black precipitate MnO2 nanoparticles as prepared, and annealed at different temperatures (250, 450, and 750 degrees C) were characterized. The nanoparticles prepared were tested for removal of methylene blue (MB), used as a model dye from water. In order to determine the structure and the chemical nature of the MnO2 nanoparticles prepared, the characterization was carried out by X-ray diffraction. For the surface morphological studies of nanoparticles, field emission scanning electron microscopy was used. In order to study the surface roughness atomic force microscopy was used for determination of the imaging surface structures in the nm scale. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry was used to investigate the vibrations of functional groups in MnO2. The tests for dye removal from water using MnO2 nanoparticles have been carried out for MnO2 nanoparticles as prepared and annealed at different temperatures. The process parameters such as speed of shaking, reaction time, and MB concentration were studied at 25 degrees C temperature to determine the best removal efficiency of methylene blue from water. UV/Visible spectrophotometer was used to follow the MB removal. MnO2 annealed at 750 degrees C exhibited the highest MB removal efficiency, 89%, as compared with MnO2 nanoparticles as prepared and annealed at 250 and 450 degrees C.