Nanoparticle Fe3O4 magnetized activated carbon from Armeniaca sibirica shell for the adsorption of Hg(II) ions
Armeniaca sibirica shell activated carbon (ASSAC) magnetized by nanoparticle Fe3O4 prepared from Armeniaca sibirica shell was investigated to determine its adsorption for Hg2+ from wastewater. Fe3O4/ASSAC was characterized using XRD (X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), and BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller). Optimum adsorption parameters were determined based on the initial concentration of Hg2+, reaction time, reaction temperature, and pH value in adsorption studies. The experiment results demonstrated that the specific surface area of ASSAC decreased after magnetization; however the adsorption capacity and removal rate of Hg2+ increased 0.656 mg/g and 0.630%, respectively. When the initial concentration of Hg2+ solution was 250 mg/L and the pH value was 2, the adsorption time was 180 min and the temperature was 30 °C, and with the Fe3O4/ASSAC at 0.05 g, the adsorption reaching 97.1 mg/g, and the removal efficiency was 99.6%. The adsorption capacity of Fe3O4/ASSAC to Hg2+ was in accord with Freundlich isotherm models, and a pseudo-second-order kinetic equation was used to fit the adsorption best. The Gibbs free energy ΔGo < 0,enthalpy change ΔHo < 0, and entropy change ΔSo < 0 which manifested the adsorption was a spontaneous and exothermic process.