Exploring Ca and Sr stannate perovskites as adsorbents for Congo Red removal

Organic azo-dyes, including Congo Red, present a significant environmental concern due to their widespread industrial usage and resistance to biodegradation, leading to severe contamination of effluents. This study explores the efficacy of two basic perovskites (MSnO3, where M = Ca and Sr) in removing Congo Red by adsorption, offering a potential solution for wastewater treatment. The synthesis of the adsorbents was performed by a coprecipitation technique, an effective and no-waste producing method. By adjusting reaction conditions, the physical-chemical characteristics of the perovskites, including crystallinity, morphological features, surface area and porosity, were controlled. Adsorption studies conducted across a range of Congo Red concentrations (10–100 mg L− 1) at pH 10 revealed MSnO3 to possess exceptional adsorption capacity exceeding 100 mg per gram. The results indicate irreversible adsorption and potential adsorbent regeneration by thermal treatment. Slow kinetics also suggest strong binding forces aligned with the fundamentals of pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetic model. Regarding the impact of the synthesis parameters, while the precipitation conditions may not significantly influence adsorption performance, perovskite samples synthesized at higher temperatures are considered more suitable for this application due to their enhanced stability and regenerative capabilities for repeated use. Estimated correlations between sample parameters and adsorption efficiency provide a valuable insight for the practical application of oxide perovskites in addressing dye contamination issues. MSnO3 with tuneable properties can be obtained via MSn(OH)6 as an intermediate. CaSnO3 consistently demonstrates high adsorption capacities of 98–105 mg g− 1. SrSnO3 adsorption performance is significantly influenced by experimental conditions. Desorption experiments indicate irreversibility, suggesting strong binding forces. Both perovskites exhibit successful regeneration capabilities by thermal treatment.