Magnetic Fe 3 O 4 -Ag 0 Nanocomposites for Effective Mercury Removal from Water

Vassilis J. Inglezakis, Aliya Kurbanova, Anara Molkenova, Antonis A. Zorpas and Timur Sh. Atabaev
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Vassilis J. Inglezakis: Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), Department of Chemical &Materials Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Aliya Kurbanova: The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Anara Molkenova: Department of Chemistry, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Antonis A. Zorpas: Lab of Chemical Engineering & Engineering Sustainability, Faculty of Pure & Applied Science, Open University of Cyprus, GiannouKranidioti 33, Nicosia 2220, Cyprus
Timur Sh. Atabaev: Department of Chemistry, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 13, 1-10

Abstract: In this study, magnetic Fe 3 O 4 particles and Fe 3 O 4 -Ag 0 nanocomposites were prepared by a facile and green method, fully characterized and used for the removal of Hg 2+ from water. Characterizations showed that the Fe 3 O 4 particles are quasi-spherical with an average diameter of 217 nm and metallic silver nanoparticles formed on the surface with a size of 23–41 nm. The initial Hg 2+ removal rate was very fast followed by a slow increase and the maximum solid phase loading was 71.3 mg/g for the Fe 3 O 4 -Ag 0 and 28 mg/g for the bare Fe 3 O 4 . The removal mechanism is complex, involving Hg 2+ adsorption and reduction, Fe 2+ and Ag 0 oxidation accompanied with reactions of Cl − with Hg + and Ag + . The facile and green synthesis process, the fast kinetics and high removal capacity and the possibility of magnetic separation make Fe 3 O 4 -Ag 0 nanocomposites attractive materials for the removal of Hg 2+ from water.

Keywords: nanocomposites; magnetite; silver; mercury; amalgamation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:13:p:5489-:d:381593

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