(1) Background: A comparative research study to remove Congo Red (CR) and Methyl Orange (MO) from single and binary solutions by adsorption onto cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) and cobalt ferrite–chitosan composite (CoFe₂O₄-Chit) prepared by a simple coprecipitation method has been performed. (2) Methods: Structural, textural, morphology, and magnetic properties of the obtained magnetic materials were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption–desorption analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and magnetic measurements. The optimal operating conditions of the CR and MO removal processes were established in batch experiments. The mathematical models used to describe the processes at equilibrium were Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms. (3) Results: Cobalt ferrite–chitosan composite has a lower specific surface area (S_BET) and consequently a lower adsorption capacity than cobalt ferrite. CoFe₂O₄ and CoFe₂O₄–Chit particles exhibited a superparamagnetic behavior which enabled their efficient magnetic separation after the adsorption process. The research indicates that CR and MO adsorption onto prepared magnetic materials takes place as monolayer onto a homogeneous surface. According to Langmuir isotherm model that best fits the experimental data, the maximum CR/MO adsorption capacity is 162.68/94.46 mg/g for CoFe₂O₄ and 15.60/66.18 mg/g for CoFe₂O₄–Chit in single solutions. The results of the kinetics study revealed that in single-component solutions, both pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetics models represent well the adsorption process of CR/MO on both magnetic adsorbents. In binary solutions, adsorption of CR/MO on CoFe₂O₄ better follows the pseudo-second-order kinetics model, while the kinetic of CR/MO adsorption on CoFe₂O₄–Chit is similar to that of the dyes in single-component solutions. Acetone and ethanol were successfully used as desorbing agents. (4) Conclusions: Our study revealed that CoFe₂O₄ and CoFe₂O₄–Chit particles are good candidates for dye-contaminated wastewater remediation.

The formation and growth of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were investigated in pH 7 buffer solution of bovine serum albumin (BSA) at room temperature. The processes were monitored by UV-Vis, circular dichroism, Raman and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. TEM microscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements were used to evidence changes in particle size during nanoparticle formation and growth. The formation of AuNPs at pH 7 in the absence of BSA was not observed, which proves that the albumin is involved in the first step of Au(III) reduction. Changes in the EPR spectral features of two spin probes, CAT16 and DIS3, with affinity for BSA and AuNPs, respectively, allowed us to monitor the particle growth and to demonstrate the protective role of BSA for AuNPs. The size of AuNPs formed in BSA solution increases slowly with time, resulting in nanoparticles of different morphologies, as revealed by TEM. Raman spectra of BSA indicate the interaction of albumin with AuNPs through sulfur-containing amino acid residues. This study shows that albumins act as both reducing agents and protective corona of AuNPs.