Recyclable magnetic nanocomposites for efficient removal of cadmium ions from water: performance, mechanism and isotherm studies

ABSTRACT

Herein, succinic acid functionalized Fe₃O₄@AMPA nanocomposite was synthesized as an effective adsorbent and used for the efficient removal of Cd(II) ions from aqueous media. Zeta potential, BET, TEM, TGA, and FTIR spectra were applied to characterize the Fe₃O₄@AMPA@SA nanocomposite. According to the BET analysis, the surface area of Fe₃O₄@AMPA@SA was found to be 43 m²/g. The influence of pH value, initial Cd(II) concentration, adsorbent dosage, temperature, and contact time on the adsorption process was achieved via the batch experiment method. The result showed that the optimal parameters were 6, 250 mg/L, 0.03 g/50 mL, 150 min, and 25°C, respectively. The experimental data fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm and the pseudo-first-order models. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of Cd(II) ions was 265 mg g⁻¹. The adsorption mechanism of Cd(II) on magnetic nanocomposite is physical adsorption. The Fe₃O₄@AMPA@SA nanocomposite shows excellent reusability with a removal efficiency of 81.4% after three cycles.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Magnetic nanocomposite
• adsorption
• mechanism
• toxic Cd(II)
• isotherm
• succinic acid

Acknowledgments

The authors express their appreciation for the search and innovation agency, the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia to finance this research work through the project number (UB-27-1442).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors express their appreciation for the search and innovation agency, the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia to finance this research work through the project number (UB-27-1442).