The adsorptive removal of Mo(VI) from aqueous solution by a synthetic magnetic chromium ferrite nanocomposite using a nonionic surfactant

Abstract

A magnetic chromium ferrite (CrFe2O4) nanocomposite was prepared through the sonochemical method in the presence of oleic acid as a nonionic surfactant. The produced powder was further characterized using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) technique, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. SEM and TEM images showed the surface morphology and formation of nanosized particles. The removal of molybdenum (VI) from fission products was studied using a magnetic CrFe2O4 nanoadsorbent by the batch adsorption technique. The point of zero charge, pHPZC, of the magnetic ferrite was determined by the solid addition method. Adsorption was successfully described using a pseudo-second-order model. The Langmuir and Toth models were capable of perfectly fitting the equilibrium data. Additionally, the thermodynamic parameters were obtained. The desorption amount of molybdenum ions reached the maximum value (exceeding 99%) when using 1.0 mol/L NaOH. These results suggested that the magnetic CrFe2O4 nanoadsorbent was an adsorbent that could be potentially used for the successful removal of molybdenum (VI) from a mixture of metal ions found in fission products.