Facile and Room Temperature Synthesis of Superparamagnetic Fe3O4/C Core/Shell Nanoparticles for Efficient Removal of Pb(II) From Aqueous Solution

In this work, superparamagnetic Fe3O4/C core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using a room-temperature and green route combining co-precipitation method, followed by hydrothermal process. The prepared nanoparticle was utilized as an adsorbent for the removal of Pb+2 ions from a wastewater. The effect of various parameters; such as pH, dose of adsorbent, contact time and concentration of lead ions on the adsorption capacity were examined in details. The adsorption capacity (qm) of Fe3O4/C NPs was estimated from the Langmuir isotherm curve and was found to be 244 mgg(-1). Interestingly, the produced Fe3O4/C NPs exhibited a rapid removal of toxic lead metal ions from wastewater effluents and the adsorption kinetics is well described by pseudo-second-order model. Furthermore, the data of Pb2+ adsorption is best fit for the Langmuir model. Moreover, the Fe3O4/C core/shell NPs were recycled and reused for at least five times without a significant loss of adsorption efficiency.