Abstract
Adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solution using MFe2O4 nanoferrites (M = Co, Ni, and Zn) was studied. Nanoferrite samples were prepared via the mechanochemical method and were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), micro-Raman, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). XRD analysis confirms the formation of pure single phases of cubic ferrites with average crystallite sizes of 23.8, 19.4, and 19.2 nm for CoFe2O4, NiFe2O4, and ZnFe2O4, respectively. Only NiFe2O4 and ZnFe2O4 samples show superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature, whereas CoFe2O4 is ferromagnetic. Kinetics and isotherm adsorption studies for adsorption of Pb(II) were carried out. A pseudo-second-order kinetic describes the sorption behavior. The experimental data of the isotherms were well fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity of Pb(II) on the nanoferrites was found to be 20.58, 17.76, and 9.34 mg·g−1 for M = Co, Ni, and Zn, respectively.
Highlights
Spinel ferrites play an important role in technological applications
Nanoferrite samples were prepared via the mechanochemical method and were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), micro-Raman, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM)
We investigated the effectiveness of CoFe2O4, NiFe2O4, and ZnFe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles, obtained by soft mechanochemical treatment, for removing lead from aqueous solution
Summary
Spinel ferrites play an important role in technological applications. Their interesting electrical, magnetic, and dielectric properties make them useful in many applications, such as electronic devices, sensors, memory devices, data storage, and telecommunications [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. The possibility of preparing ferrites in the form of nanoparticles (NPs) has opened a new and exciting research field with revolutionary applications, in electronic technology and in the fields of biotechnology [10] and water treatment [11], due to their nanometer size, superparamagnetic properties, and a high surface-to-volume ratio [12, 13]. The World Health Organization has set an upper limit of 0.05 mg/L for lead in drinking water. Lead can be directly recovered from waste and there is a demand of innovative and economical methods that can reduce contamination and regenerate Pb [20]
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