Multifunctional cobalt oxide nanocomposites for efficient removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 317; p. 137922
• Main Authors: El Mouden, Abdelaziz, El Messaoudi, Noureddine, El Guerraf, Abdelqader, Bouich, Amal, Mehmeti, Valbonë, Lacherai, Abdellah, Jada, Amane, Sher, Farooq
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adsorption; Adsorption and MC simulations; Cadmium - analysis; Chemical Sciences; Co3O4 nanoparticles; Environmental pollution; Heavy metals; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Lead; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Nanocomposites - chemistry; Natural clay; Oxides; Water - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Environmental pollution; Adsorption and MC simulations; Natural clay; Co3O4 nanoparticles; Heavy metals; CoO nanoparticles
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137922

In this study, co-precipitation synthesis of natural clay (NC) with Co3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) is carried out to elaborate the super NC@Co3O4 nanocomposites with admirable salinity confrontation, environmental stability and reusability, to eliminate heavy metal pollution such as toxic Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions. The advantages of using the NC@Co3O4 adsorbent are easy synthesis and biocompatibility. In addition, NC@Co3O4 can keep an excellent adsorption capacity by taking into account various environmental parameters such as the pH solution, NC@Co3O4 dose, adsorption process time and the initial heavy metals concentration. Furthermore, FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM-EDS, TEM and AFM analyses were performed to confirm NC@Co3O4 nanocomposites synthesis and characterisation. The adsorption efficiencies of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions by NC@Co3O4 nanocomposites were demonstrated to be up to 86.89% and 82.06% respectively. Regarding the adsorption from water onto the NC@Co3O4 nanocomposites, kinetics data were well fitted with PSO kinetic model, whereas a good agreement was found between the equilibrium adsorption and theoretical Langmuir isotherm model leading to maximum adsorption capacities of 55.24 and 52.91 mg/g, for Pb(II) and Cd(II) respectively. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations confirmed the spontaneous of this adsorption based on the negative values of Eads. The MC simulations were performed to highlight the interactions occurring between heavy metal ions and the surface of NC@Co3O4 nanocomposites, these were well correlated with the experimental results. Overall the study showed that NC@Co3O4 nanoadsorbents have strongly versatile applications and are well designed for pollutant removal from wastewater due to their unique adsorptive properties. [Display omitted] •Synthesis of sustainable nanocomposites of natural clay (NC) with Co3O4 nanoparticles (NPs).•Removal of Pb(II) and Cd (II) ions using NC@Co3O4 nanocomposites.•NC@Co3O4 has Qm of 55.24 mg/g for Pb(II) and 52.91 mg/g for Cd (II) ions.•MC simulations were used to clarify adsorption properties of nanocomposites.•The NC@Co3O4 nanocomposites are reusable for 5 consecutive cycles.