Alumina–zirconia (Al₂O₃–ZrO₂) composite was prepared by combustion method and used to remove Congo red and Methylene blue from aqueous solutions. It was characterized using SEM–EDS, XRD and gas adsorption techniques. The results obtained from gas adsorption and SEM agree with each other, showing meso- and macro-porosity of inter-agglomerate pores. The removal of the two dyes was pH dependent, acidic pH favoured Congo red removal, while basic pH favoured Methylene blue. The, mechanism of adsorption was not limited to electrostatic attraction between the adsorbent and the dye molecules. Adsorption kinetic of both dyes was consistent with Pseudo-second-order model. The data obtained fitted to Langmuir and Liu isotherm models, with the maximum adsorption capacity of 57. 50 and 53.44 mg g^–1 for Congo red and Methylene blue, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption is spontaneous and exothermic. The mechanism of adsorption was elucidated using XRD and FTIR techniques. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

In this work, we present magnetic nanoparticles based on iron oxide doped with zinc synthesized using the wet co-precipitation method for environmental application. The morphology of the samples was revealed by SEM and TEM, which showed particles of granular shape and size of about 15 nm. The specific surface areas of the materials using the BET method were within the range of 85.7 to 101.5 m² g⁻¹ depending on the zinc content in the superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). Magnetometry was performed to determine the magnetic properties of the particles, indicating superparamagnetism. Synthesized magnetic nanoparticles with different amounts of zinc dopant were used as an adsorbent to remove model pollutant Titan yellow (TY) from the aqueous solutions. Adsorption was determined by investigating the effects of sorbent amount, dye concentration, and contact time. The synthesized material removed Titan yellow quickly and efficiently within the physical adsorption. The adsorption isotherms were consistent with the models proposed by Langmuir and Redlich-Peterson. The monolayer adsorption capacities were 30 and 43 mg g⁻¹ for Fe₃O₄ and Fe₃O₄@10%Zn, respectively, for the removal of TY. However, that of Congo red is 59 mg g⁻¹ by Fe₃O₄@10%Zn. The proposed nanoparticles offer fast and cost-effective water purification, and they can be separated from solution using magnets.