Abstract
A magnesium hydroxide (MH)-modified calcined fly ash (CFA) nanocomposite (CFAMH) with core-shell structure was obtained with a heterogeneous nucleation method, and its application for removal of copper, zinc and nickel ions from aqueous acidic solution was studied. The microstructure and surface properties of CFA, CFAMH and MH powders were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier translation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. The preparation mechanism of CFAMH was discussed based on zeta potential and FTIR data. The results showed that nano-flake MH with thickness 13.4 nm was well coated on the surface of CFA. The specific surface area was increased from 2.5 to 31.0 m2/g. Si-O-Mg-OH bonds formed from the condensation of Si-OH and Mg-OH. The removal efficiency of heavy metals on CFAMH nanocomposite is higher than that of CFA and MH and follows an order of Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Ni2+. Solubility product constant (Ksp) is an important constant for the removal order of heavy metals on FA, CFAMH and MH. CFAMH nanocomposite can be a cheap material for removing heavy metal ions from acidic wastewater.
Highlights
The discharge of acid and toxic heavy metals such as copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) into the environment is accelerating annually with the rapid development of economics and industries, leading to serious environmental pollution and health problems to the human body for their recalcitrance and persistence [1]
CFAMH nanocomposite can be a cheap material for removing heavy metal ions from acidic wastewater
The removal efficiency of heavy metals on calcined fly ash (CFA), magnesium hydroxide (MH) and CFAMH follows an order of Cu2+ > Zn2+
Summary
The discharge of acid and toxic heavy metals such as copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) into the environment is accelerating annually with the rapid development of economics and industries, leading to serious environmental pollution and health problems to the human body for their recalcitrance and persistence [1]. Different techniques, including adsorption [2], ion exchange [3], membrane processes [4], chemical precipitation [5], photocatalytic degradation [6], reverse osmosis [7], coagulation [8], solvent extraction [9], flotation [10] and advanced oxidation [11,12], have been applied for adsorbing heavy metal ions from aqueous media. The most commonly used nanomaterials are metal-organic framework (MOFs) [14], nanoscale zero-valent irons (NZVI) [15], mxenes [16], Materials 2020, 13, 4621; doi:10.3390/ma13204621 www.mdpi.com/journal/materials
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