Comparison Between Commercial and Synthesized Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Removal of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Wastewater

Abstract

Wastewater polluted with harmful heavy metal presently becomes a crucial environmental issue throughout the world. In this study, commercial and synthesized Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were functioned to remove lead, nickel and cadmium ions in single element system. Experimental conditions including pH, contact time and metal ion concentrations were tested. The isothermal equilibrium for single component system was favorable and the maximum uptake of lead, nickel and cadmium ions adsorbed on commercial Fe₃O₄ were 35.3, 5.18 and 18.16 mg/g respectively while 31.5, 4.36 and 20.56 mg/g on synthesized one at optimum pH 6 for an hour of equilibrium contact time. The isotherm data resulted from both adsorbents fitted well with Freundlich model. The experiments demonstrates that the performance of synthesized nanosorbent which is economically convenient to be used, approaches the effectiveness of commercial Fe₃O₄. Therefore, prepared nanosorbent form was taken as practical adsorbent and utilized in binary and ternary systems to show the competition of metal contaminants. Results indicated that lead ions had rapid affinity to be sorbed on the nanoparticles while nickel solute had slow attraction. XRF X-ray fluorescence, TEM Transmission electron microscope, FTIR Fourier transfer infrared and XRD X-ray diffraction were also carried out to identify and demonstrate the properties of both nanosorbents.