An investigation of the mechanical properties and adsorption potentials of Fe2O3@SiO2-L-cysteine-cellulose system

In this study, the Fe₂O₃@SiO₂-L-cysteine-cellulose system was synthesized and characterized through XRD, FT-IR, EDS, and TGA-DTA analyses. This system's adsorption performance was evaluated for removing heavy metals such as Cr, Cd, Ni, and Pb from synthetic wastewater. The magnetic core demonstrated a beneficial effect on enhancing the metal adsorption capacity of the polymer, while the magnetic properties facilitated the recyclability of the adsorbent. The adsorption of Cr(VI), Cd(II), Ni(II), and Pb(II) ions was explored under varying conditions of pH, temperature, metal ion concentration, and adsorbent dosage. Maximum adsorption capacities for Cd(II), Ni(II), and Pb(II) ions were recorded at 423.56 mg/g, 426.32 mg/g, and 422.21 mg/g, respectively, under optimal conditions of pH 6.5, metal ion concentration of 600 mg/L, an adsorbent dose of 0.07 g, and room temperature. Additionally, the adsorption capacity of the material for water, N₂, and CO₂ was assessed. The system exhibited excellent removal efficiency for Cr(VI) ions (˃98%) at an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 90 mg/L using 0.07 g of the adsorbent. The combination of Fe₂O₃@SiO₂, L-cysteine, and cellulose in one adsorbent system performs distinct advantages for heavy metal adsorption such as enhanced surface area of adsorbent, preventing degradation in harsh conditions, magnetic separation and reusability of the adsorbent.