Removal of Cd super(2+) and Cu super(2+) ions from aqueous solution by using Fe-Fe sub(3) O sub(4)/graphene oxide as a novel and efficient adsorbent

• Published in: Materials research express Vol. 3; no. 10; p. 105603
• Main Authors: Le, Giang H, Ha, Anh Q, Nguyen, Quang K, Nguyen, Kien T, Dang, Phuong T, Tran, Hoa T K, Vu, Loi D, Nguyen, Tuyen V, Lee, Gun D, Vu, Tuan A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.10.2016
• Subjects: Adsorbents; Copper; Graphene; Nanostructure; Particle physics; Surface chemistry; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 2053-1591; 2053-1591
• DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/3/10/105603

The nano Fe-Fe sub(3) O sub(4)/graphene oxide (GO) was successfully synthesized by the precipitation method and followed by chemical reduction using FeCl sub(3) as iron sources and NaBH sub(4) as reducing agent. The products were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), BET, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and VMS. From the obtained XRD and XPS results, it revealed the formation of both Fe and Fe sub(3) O sub(4) nano particles on GO surface. TEM images showed that both Fe sub(3) O sub(4)/GO and Fe-Fe sub(3) O sub(4)/GO had small particle size of 10-20 nm and uniform size distribution. Fe sub(3) O sub(4)/GO and Fe-Fe sub(3) O sub(4)/GO were used as adsorbents for removal of Cd super(2+) and Cu super(2+) ions from aqueous solution. Maximum adsorption capacity (Q sub(max)) of Fe-Fe sub(3) O sub(4)/GO for Cu super(2+) and Cd super(2+) are 90.0 mg g super(-1) and 108.6 mg g super(-1), respectively. These values are much higher as compared to those of Fe sub(3) O sub(4)/GO as well as those reported in the literature. Additionally, this novel adsorbent can be reused by washing with diluted Hcl solution and easily recovered by applying the magnetic field. The Cd super(2+) adsorption isotherm fits better for the Langmuir model that of the Freundlich model and it obeys the pseudo-second order kinetic equation.