Abstract
In this study, the chitosan-grafted tetracarboxylic functionalized magnetic nanoparticle (Fe3O4@TCA@CS) was synthesized via in situ co-precipitation process and amidation reaction to improve efficiency of adsorption process and obtain cost-effective adsorbents for removal of toxic Pb(II) metal from aqueous environment. The Fe3O4@TCA@CS nanocomposite was analyzed by FTIR, TEM-EDX, TGA, XRD, BET, and Zeta potential. The performance of Fe3O4@TCA@CS for Pb(II) ions adsorption was achieved as a function of pH, dose, contact time, initial Pb(II) concentration, and temperature. The influence of coexisting ions such as Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Cd2+on removal efficiency of Pb(II) was also investigated. The results revealed that the coexisting ions had little influence on Pb(II) removal efficiency. The pseudo-first-order and Freundlich models were better to describe the adsorption of Pb(II) onto Fe3O4@TCA@CS and the maximum adsorption capacity of Pb(II) was 204.92 mg/g at pH:5.5; adsorbent dose: 0.015 g; and temperature: 298 K. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the Pb(II) adsorption onto Fe3O4@TCA@CS was an exothermic process. In conclusion, the study provides a new, simple, low-cost, and effective chitosan-based magnetic nanocomposite as a promising adsorbent with excellent adsorption capacity, magnetic separation, and reusability for Pb(II) removal from an aqueous environment.
•Chitosan grafted tetracarboxylic functionalized magnetite NP was synthesized.•Fe3O4@TCA@CS possessed excellent adsorption capacity (204.92 mg/g) for Pb(II).•Fe3O4@TCA@CS nanocomposite exhibits high stability under acidic medium.•Electrostatic attraction was the main adsorption mechanism of Pb(II).•In 3rd cycles, the removal efficiency of Fe3O4@TCA@CS still reached at 79.5 %.