Novel Nanocomposite of Carbonized Chitosan-Zinc Oxide-Magnetite for Adsorption of Toxic Elements from Aqueous Solutions

Herein, a novel nanocomposite (carbonized chitosan-zinc oxide-magnetite, CCZF) was developed to effectively remove toxic elements in water remediation. Combining the high adsorption capacities of chitosan with the magnetic properties of magnetite and the chemical stability of zinc oxide, the combination of these unique properties makes it an efficient and versatile material that offers a sustainable solution for water purification. The (CCZF) nanocomposite was synthesized through the coprecipitation method and characterized using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and zeta potential analysis. The results showed impressive maximum adsorption capacities of 891.34 mg/g for Ni²⁺, 1269.35 mg/g for Co²⁺, and 1502.67 mg/g for Cu²⁺, fitting well with a modified Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic, characterized by low positive enthalpy (Δ<i>H</i>) values ranging from 10.95 to 34.9 kJ/mol, indicative of the physical adsorption mechanism. Additionally, the nanocomposite demonstrated good reusability over multiple adsorption and desorption cycles. This research highlights the potential of the (CCZF) nanocomposite as a highly efficient, reusable adsorbent for the removal of toxic elements from aqueous solutions, contributing significantly to environmental remediation efforts and pollution control.