Abstract
In this study, fly ash (FA) coated with ZIF-8 (ZIF-8/FA) nanocomposite was first synthesized by taking 2-methylimidazole and zinc nitrate hexahydrate as reactants and then used as an adsorbent for adsorption of copper, zinc, and nickel ions from aqueous solution. The characteristic of FA and ZIF-8/FA samples were analyzed based on the data from scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, grain size analyzer and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm. The results showed that ZIF-8 deposited on the FA evenly. The average crystallite size of ZIF-8 on the surface of FA is 15.85 nm. The specific surface area of FA was increased from 1.8 to 249.5 m2/g. The adsorption efficiency of the ZIF-8/FA nanocomposite for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution was optimized in terms of different parameters such as pH, adsorbent dosage, and contact time. It was shown that the saturated adsorption amounts of the obtained composite for adsorption of Cu2+, Zn2+, and Ni2+ are 335, 197, and 93 mg·g−1. ZIF-8/FA had better stability and more mesoporous volume than that of ZIF-8 and exhibited higher rate for adsorption of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution than FA and ZIF-8, suggesting an adsorption synergy between ZIF-8 and FA. The adsorption mechanism of heavy metal ions by ZIF-8/FA includes surface adsorption, pore adsorption, and ion exchange. The obtained ZIF-8/FA nanocomposite can solve the encountered problems of FA for low adsorption and the difficult recycling of ZIF-8 for their small size, high cost, and poor stability.
Highlights
Water is the most critical resource for human life
The adsorption efficiency of the zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs)-8/fly ash (FA) nanocomposite for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution was optimized in terms of different parameters such as pH, adsorbent dosage, and contact time
A rough surface with nanosize particles could be clearly observed for ZIF-8/FA (Figure 1d), suggesting the formation of ZIF-8 onto the surface of FA
Summary
Water is the most critical resource for human life. Nowadays, ecological environment and water ecosystem is seriously polluted by various organic and inorganic pollutants emitted from industries. The protection and treatment of water have become the most concerned issues in modern society. Removal of heavy metal ions especially copper, zinc, and nickel ions with environmentally friendly and low-cost adsorbent from wastewater has attracted considerable attention recently. The reason for this is that excessive copper, zinc and nickel ions cause serious threat to the environment, animals, and humans and they are non-biodegradable and toxic [1,2,3]
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