Superparamagnetic Spinel-Ferrite Nano-Adsorbents Adapted for Hg2+, Dy3+, Tb3+ Removal/Recycling: Synthesis, Characterization, and Assessment of Toxicity

Synthesis of CoFe2O4@SiO2-NH2 and its application in adsorption of trace lead

In this work, an amine functionalized CoFe2O4 magnetic nanocomposite material CoFe2O4@SiO2-NH2 was prepared successfully by modifying coated-CoFe2O4@SiO2 magnetic nanoparticles with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and became an efficient adsorbent for the separation and analysis of trace lead in water. The CoFe2O4@SiO2-NH2 magnetic nanoparticles were characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, VSM and BET techniques. Then, the adsorption mechanism was preliminarily investigated through ZETA, XPS, and adsorption kinetic experiments. The adsorption process was fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetics and a Langmuir isotherm model. The main adsorption mechanism of CoFe2O4@SiO2-NH2 towards lead ions was the chelation between the amino groups of CoFe2O4@SiO2-NH2 and lead cations, as well as the strong Coulomb interaction between the electron donor atoms O and N in the surface of CoFe2O4@SiO2-NH2 and lead cations. The adsorption capacity is 74.5 mg g-1 and the adsorbent can be reused 5 times. Hence, this prepared CoFe2O4@SiO2-NH2 could find potential applications for the removal of trace metal ions in surface water.