Purification of Water Contaminated with Heavy Metals, Exemplified by Lead Cations, Utilizing Fe2O3@Al2O3 Nanocomposites

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), PO Box 90905, Riyadh, 11623, KSA.

Abstract

The poisoning of natural water resources by waste discharge is a significant problem, and the search for a solution to a problem of this magnitude is a matter of concern on a global scale. Novel Fe2O3@Al2O3 nanocomposite was synthesized via a simple, green, and eco-friendly method utilizing glucose as a capping material. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results for the synthesized Fe2O3@Al2O3 revealed a particle size ranging between 3.5 and 13.9 nm. The sorbent possessed a specific surface area of 113.46 m2 g-1 and was tested for removing heavy metals from water, exemplified by Pb2+. Fe2O3@Al2O3 was proven to be an excellent sorbent for Pb2+, with a qt value of 246.4 mg g-1 for a 2.0 h equilibrium time. The Pb2+ removal fitted a pseudo-second-order (PSO) model, and the Pb2+ sorption onto Fe2O3@Al2O3 was controlled via a liquid-film diffusion model (LFM), which implied an excellent sorbent–sorbate affinity. The equilibrium studies revealed a better agreement of Pb2+ sorption with the Freundlich isotherm model (FIM), while the thermodynamic results indicated spontaneous endothermic physisorption. Fe2O3@Al2O3 showed an average efficiency of 96.8% in treated seawater (SW) and groundwater (GW) spiked with Pb2+, and the sorbent activity after four cycles was 94.2% of its original efficiency, with an RSD of 5.19.

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 August 2023
  • Revise Date: 20 September 2023
  • Accept Date: 01 October 2023

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