A hybrid mesoporous composite of SnO2 and MgO for adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of anionic dye from a real industrial effluent water

Water pollution by synthetic anionic dyes is one of the most critical ecological concerns and challenges. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find an efficient adsorbent and photocatalyst for dye removal. In the present study, we aimed to fabricate a hybrid mesoporous composite of spongy sphere-like SnO2 and three-dimensional (3D) cubic-like MgO (SnO2/MgO) as a promising adsorbent/photocatalyst to remove the anionic sunset yellow (SSY) dye from real wastewater at neutral pH conditions. The as-synthesized SnO2 and MgO composite was investigated using XRD, SEM, EDX, TEM, XPS, BET, and zeta potential. The experimental study of the SSY removal using SnO2/MgO composite was performed at different conditions, such as pH, stirring time, dose, and temperature. More than 99% of 10 mg/L SSY was effectively adsorbed from aqueous solution using 40 mg of SnO2/MgO composite at pH 7 and a stirring