Facile one-step preparation of triethanolamine modified magnetic nanoparticles for the high-efficient removal of Cu (II) ions and methylene blue

Abstract

Abstract The novel triethanolamine modified magnetic CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (CFO@TEOA) as a magnetic nano-adsorbent have been first synthesized by a facile one-step method for the remove of Cu (II) and methylene blue. Owing to its high saturation magnetization (41.76 emu g−1), CFO@TEOA can be removed from aqueous solution in 1 min by permanent magnet. It exhibits effective adsorption to Cu (II) and methylene blue based on coordination and electrostatic attraction. Adsorption equilibrium can be achieved in 25 min for Cu (II) and 5 min for methylene blue, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities calculated from Langmuir isotherm are 396.0 mg g−1 for Cu (II) and 301.2 mg g−1 for methylene blue. Additionally, CFO@TEOA keeps its adsorption and desorption efficiencies constant over 10 cycles. More importantly, this nanoadsorbent could removal about 85% of Cu2+and over 98% of methylene blue from real wastewater. This work introduces a high efficient magnetic adsorbent prepared by a one-step route for the removal of Cu (II) ions and methylene blue from aqueous solutions.