Abstract
CoFe2O4/MWCNTs nano-composites were synthesized via gelatin auto-combustion. The ferrite's weight percent was found to affect structural, thermal, electrical and magnetic properties. XRD indicated that the ferrite's weight percent affected the appearance of peaks. Nano-composites with ferrite ratio up to 30% only exhibited the characteristic diffraction peaks of MWCNTs while in the higher ratios ferrites' peaks predominate. FT-IR indicated the existence of some interactions between entire components. TEM images showed that MWCNTs decoration was accompanied by a gradual change in size of ferrite particles with increasing ratio. An appropriate decoration mechanism was suggested based on XRD and TEM measurements. The severe reduction in thermal stability by addition of CoFe2O4 was attributed to its catalytic activity. VSM indicated ferromagnetic characteristics and showed a gradual increase in magnetization with increasing ferrite. Ac-conductivity exhibited metallic properties with an obvious decrease at higher temperatures, for ferrite contents starting from 50%, attributed to the degrading of the MWCNTs skeleton and decreasing electrons delocalization. The nano-composites (10 and 20%) were investigated for the efficient removal of acid red dye (AR) from wastewater. The effect of various parameters on removal efficiency was investigated. The adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic was also investigated and discussed.