Abstract
In this paper, the gelation technique was utilized for the synthesis of a Si/Cu amorphous sample composed of oxygen, sodium, silicon, and copper. The obtained sample was identified utilizing FT-IR, EDS, XRD, and FE-SEM instruments. The non-crystalline nature of the obtained sample was confirmed through the presence of XRD broadband in the range 2 theta = 16 degrees-46 degrees. Also, the obtained sample was utilized as an economically inexpensive and efficient adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous media. Besides, several parameters were examined for evaluating the removal of methylene blue dye, for example, kinetic, equilibrium, thermodynamic, and reusability. Moreover, the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-first-order kinetic model controlled the adsorption process. The maximum adsorption capacity of the obtained adsorbent was 102.05 mg/g. In addition, the negative increment G degrees values affirmed the spontaneous properties of the adsorption. Also, the adsorption was exothermic and physical because increment H degrees is negative and less than 40 kJ/mol. Finally, the obtained adsorbent was regenerated then reused several times without changing their removing efficiency.