Incorporation of MgO-humic acid in iron oxide based magnetic composite facilitates for effective remediation of lead, arsenic and bacterial effect in water

Abstract

Heavy metal detection and its removal from water have been a major concern for environmentalists because of its noxious effect on flora and fauna. In this study, MgO-HA@Fe3O4 has been synthesized using the co-precipitation method and employed to remove lead and arsenic from water. The adsorbent was extensively characterized using various techniques such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer − Emmett − Teller (BET), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Zeta Potential. Batch studies were conducted to evaluate different parameters such as pH, contact time, dose, and initial ion concentration for optimal adsorption. The data obtained from the experiments were evaluated by employing equilibrium isotherm and kinetics models. The Freundlich and second-order kinetics models were found to best describe the equilibrium and kinetic study results for Pb(II) and As(V) adsorption, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of MgO-HA@Fe3O4 was found to be 248.76 mg/g for lead and 104.17 mg/g for arsenic. The efficiency of the adsorbent in adsorption of heavy metal ions was tested in the presence of various co-ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, PO43−, Cl−, and HCO3–. Regeneration studies showed that the developed adsorbent had satisfactory adsorption ability even after five times regeneration cycle. Additionally, the synthesized material is capable to exhibit antibacterial properties against E. coli, indicating its potential as an effective antibacterial agent. Overall, the ease of synthesis process of the adsorbent under study, its rapid adsorption aptness, magnetic properties, and high adsorption capacity make it an ideal candidate for effectively removing lead and arsenic ions.