Magnetically active nanocomposite aerogels: preparation, characterization and application for water treatment

• Published in: Journal of porous materials Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 545 - 557
• Main Authors: Ali, Imran, Neskoromnaya, E. A., Melezhik, A. V., Babkin, A. V., Kulnitskiy, B. A., Burakov, A. E., Burakova, I. V., Tkachev, A. G., Almalki, Abdulraheem S. A., Alsubaie, Abdullah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.04.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerogels; Catalysis; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Dyes; Ferromagnetic materials; Iron; Nanocomposites; Physical Chemistry; Regeneration; Sorbents; Sorption; Specific surface; Surface area; Water treatment; Composite aerogels; Water treatment by adsorption; Ferromagnetic; Dyes removal
• ISSN: 1380-2224; 1573-4854
• DOI: 10.1007/s10934-021-01175-0

Magnetically active nanocomposite aerogels were prepared, characterized and used for water treatment. These materials were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, FT-IR and BET methods. These materials have ferromagnetic properties, facilitating the collection and removal of spent sorbent from the purified system for subsequent regeneration. The paper investigated the effect of the iron contents in the synthesized materials on their structural and functional properties. The samples with iron content ~ 10%, 22% and 35% were obtained. The specific surface area of the sample with an iron content of 22% was 670 m 2 /g; maximal in comparison with the rest of the aerogels. The sorption capacity of the aerogels was 1501 and 1390 mg/g within 10 min for methyl blue and methyl orange dyes, respectively; confirming very fast removal capacities. Thus, aerogels with a high specific surface area, ferromagnetic properties and high sorption characteristics were produced for the removal of dyes in water.