Green synthesis, characterization and adsorption of chromium and cadmium from wastewater using cerium oxide nanoparticles; reaction kinetics study

Abstract

Chromium and cadmium are two hazardous heavy metals that are known carcinogens and can cause a range of health problems as well as changes in the regular functioning of the environment. Green nanotechnology has sparked a lot of attention in recent years as a potential solution to heavy metal concerns. Because of their unique chemical, physical, and biological properties that make them favorable for a wide range of uses, application of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) has gained in popularity. CeO2 NPs have a larger surface area than larger particles, leading in improved biochemical reactivity, catalytic activity, and environmental effectiveness. In this study, CeO2 NPs were made from green procedure by the use of plant extract from Azadirachta indica. The stat of the art techniques were utilized to study the physical characteristics of the synthesized CeO2 NPs. These nanoparticles were utilized as bio-sorbents to extract chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) ions from wastewater. In standard testing conditions, the CeO2 nanoparticles exhibited high removal efficiency, removing 93% of Cr within approximately 15 min of contact time, and achieving 89% removal of Cd. To acquire the best results for industrial-scale applications and to simplicity the reuse of these heavy metals, exact experimental conditions that improve the absorbance efficiency must be identified. Despite the fact that nanoparticles have demonstrated great efficiency and selectivity in extracting and recovering chromium from wastewater, further study is needed to optimize their production and performance for industrial-scale applications.