Synergistic effect of manganese dioxide and diatomite for fast decolorization and high removal capacity of methyl orange.

MnO2 nanostructures with two different morphologies (nanowires and nanosheets) were uniformly deposited on diatomite via a one-pot hydrothermal method. The fast decolorization and high removal capacity for anionic dye-MO over synthesized composites had been clarified. The results revealed that the equilibrium time was shortened to as low as 10-30min, and the maximum adsorption capacities were 325mgg-1 and 420mgg-1 for nanowires and nanosheets composites, respectively, under the condition of initial pH 3 and ambient temperature. Indeed, the proposed decolorization mechanism was considered to be simultaneous multi-processes during the dye removal, including physical, physicochemical and chemical process. In principle, well-controlled cost-effective composites have promising ability to remove anionic dye pollutants for environmental remediation.