Ni-Zn/CeO2 nanocomposites for enhanced adsorptive removal of 4-chlorophenol

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 31; no. 39; pp. 51934 - 51953
• Main Authors: Semwal, Nitish, Mahar, Divya, Chatti, Manjunath, Kumar, Rajesh, Arya, Mahesh Chandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.08.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: 4-chlorophenol; Adsorbents; Adsorption; Adsorptivity; Aquatic Pollution; Aqueous solutions; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Cerium oxides; Chemical synthesis; Chlorophenol; coprecipitation; Earth and Environmental Science; economic sustainability; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Fourier transforms; heat production; Infrared spectroscopy; Nanocomposites; p-Chlorophenol; Research Article; Response surface methodology; sorption isotherms; Structural analysis; surface area; temperature; Transmission electron microscopy; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water pollution; Water Pollution Control; Water treatment; X-ray diffraction; Zeta potential; Zinc; 4-Chlorophenol; Ni-Zn/CeO; Nanocomposite; Freundlich; Response surface methodology; Adsorption
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34669-w

Chlorophenols are one of the major organic pollutants responsible for the contamination of water bodies. This study explores the application of Ni-Zn/CeO 2 nanocomposites, synthesized via the aqueous co-precipitation method, as effective adsorbents for the 4-chlorophenol removal from aqueous solutions. The nanocomposites’ chemical and structural characteristics were assessed using different physical characterization methods, viz. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential, using a Box-Behnken design within response surface methodology, optimal conditions of pH 3, temperature 20 °C, contact time 120 min, adsorbent dosage 0.05 g, and 4-chlorophenol concentration 50 ppm are identified. Among the nanocomposites tested, NZC 20:10:70, with 20% Ni and 10% Zn, achieves enhanced performance, removing 99.1% of 4-chlorophenol within 2 h. Adsorption kinetics follow the pseudo-second-order model and equilibrium data fit the Freundlich isotherm. Thermodynamic analysis indicates an exothermic and spontaneous process. The adsorption capacity of NZC 20:10:70 shows significant enhancement, growing from 19.85 mg/g at 10 ppm to 96.33 mg/g at 50 ppm initial concentration. Physical characterization confirms NZC 20:10:70’s superior properties, including a high surface area of 118.471 m 2 /g. Evaluating economic viability, NZC 20:10:70 demonstrates robust reusability, retaining 85% efficiency over eight regeneration cycles. These results highlight NZC 20:10:70 as a promising adsorbent for effective and sustainable chlorophenol removal in water treatment.