Faujasite zeolite decorated with cobalt ferrite nanoparticles for improving removal and reuse in Pb2+ ions adsorption

Water pollution caused by heavy metals ions has been gaining attention in recent years, increasing the interest in the development of methodologies for their efficient removal focusing on the adsorption process for these purposes. The current challenge faced by adsorption processes is the adequate adsorbent immobilization for removal and reuse. Thus, the present work aimed at producing a faujasite zeolite nanocomposite decorated with cobalt ferrite nanoparticles for Pbions adsorption in an aqueous medium improving magnetic removal and reuse.As a result, a high surface area(434.4 m~2·g) for the nanocomposite and an 18.93 emu·gsaturation magnetization value were obtained, indicating magnetic removal in a promising material for adsorption process. The nanocomposite regeneration capacity evaluated by magnetic recovery after 24 h suspension presented a high Pbion adsorptive capacity(98.4%) in the first cycle. Around 98% of the Pbions were adsorbed in the second cycle. In this way, the synthesized faujasite:cobalt ferrite nanocomposite reveals itself as a promising alternative in adsorption processes, aiming at a synergic effect of FAU zeolite high adsorptive activity and the cobalt ferrite nanoparticles magnetic activity, allowing for adsorbent recovery from the aqueous medium via magnetic force and successive adsorptive cycles.