Synthesis of chitosan/MnFe₂O₄ @ reduced graphene oxide aerogel with radial passageway and its application in removing methylene blue from water

Constructing a radial passageway is an effective strategy to promote the diffusion of organic dyes from edge to center of aerogels, benefiting to that organic dyes approach catalysts and subsequently are decomposed. With regard to this concept, in this work, MnFe 2 O 4 -decorated reduced graphene oxide (MG), coupling with chitosan (CS), were used to obtain aerogels with a radial passageway. Morphology and catalytic effectiveness of the resultant CS/MG aerogels were characterized in detail. It was found that the as-prepared aerogels presented high activity in degrading organic dyes (for example, methylene blue). In addition, the reaction kinetic was comprehensively studied and followed the pseudo-first-order model. Based on the experimental results, the maximum decomposition degree of methylene blue solution containing the resultant aerogel was up to 83.9% in 240 min. Therefore, the resultant aerogel acts as a potential catalyst for degradation of methylene blue present in water.