Removal of Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) ions from aqueous solution using Tetraselmis sp. biomass modified with silica coated magnetite nanoparticles

Abstract

Modification of algae–silica (AS) hybrid material from Tetraselmis sp. biomass (AS) was performed through a sol–gel simultaneous process and coated with Fe3O4 magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs). Algae–silica hybrid material from Tetraselmis sp. biomass-coated MNPs (AS-MNPs) were used as adsorbents of heavy metal ions. The adsorption processes of Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) ions with AS and algae-silica-magnetite nanoparticles (AS-MNPs) fit pseudo-second-order kinetic models. The rate constant and adsorption capacity of Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) ions for AS-MNPs obtained from these experiments were higher than those of AS. AS-MNPs material is an effective adsorbent and can be used to absorb heavy metal ions in solution.