Facile fabrication of Fe@MgO magnetic nanocomposites for efficient removal of heavy metal ion and dye from water

• Published in: Powder technology 2018-02, Vol.326, p.393-401
• Main Authors: Ge, Lifa, Wang, Wei, Peng, Ziling, Tan, Fatang, Wang, Xinyun, Chen, Jianguo, Qiao, Xueliang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Chemical precipitation; Chemical synthesis; Chemisorption; Color removal; Dye; Dyes; Fabrication; Fe@MgO nanocomposite; Heavy metal; Heavy metals; Iron; Lead; Magnesium oxide; Magnetic composite; Magnetic properties; Magnetic saturation; Magnetic separation; Metal ions; Nanocomposites; Removal; Water treatment
• ISSN: 0032-5910; 1873-328X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2017.12.003

In this study, magnetic Fe@MgO nanocomposites were synthesized by a facile precipitation-calcination method, and used for heavy metal ion and dye removal from water. The as-synthesized Fe@MgO core-shell nanocomposites exhibited large surface area with mesoporous structure and high magnetic saturation value facilitating magnetic separation. Fe@MgO nanocomposites showed excellent adsorption properties, with maximum adsorption capacities of 1476.4mg·g−1 for Pb(II) and 6947.9mg·g−1 for methyl orange (MO), respectively. The adsorption processes of Pb(II) and MO onto Fe@MgO were found to well follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, indicating monolayer chemisorption behaviors. Mechanisms of Pb(II) and MO adsorption onto Fe@MgO were investigated by analyzing the adsorbed products. It was found that a little of MO might be mineralized by Fe@MgO. Additionally, Fe@MgO nanocomposites could simultaneously remove Pb(II) and MO from water, and Pb(II) could promote the MO adsorption onto Fe@MgO. Therefore, Fe@MgO nanocomposites are believed to have high potential in environmental remediation for heavy metal ion and dye removal. [Display omitted] •Fe@MgO was synthesized by a facile precipitation-calcination method.•Fe@MgO showed excellent adsorption properties towards Pb(II) and MO.•Pb(II) was precipitated in the form of Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 on the Fe@MgO surface.•MO was complexed with Fe@MgO, accompanying with a little mineralization of MO.•Pb(II) could promote the MO adsorption onto Fe@MgO.