Synthesis and Characterization of AC@Fe3O4 Nanocomposite and its Application as an Efficient Adsorbent for Removal of Some Heavy Metal Ions from Aqueous Solutions

Heavy metal ions such as cadmium (Cd2+), copper (Cu2+), lead (Pb2+), and arsenic (As3+), in water can lead to very serious health issues in humans such as neurological damage, organ dysfunction, and increased risk of cancer. Effective treatment options are crucial to ensure safe water. In this study, magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4) and activated carbon (AC) were independently synthesized. In the research, for synthesis of AC from pomegranate peels was used for high carbon content and eco-friendly properties. Then AC@Fe3O4 nanocomposite was synthesized via the post-synthesis method. The synthesized AC@Fe3O4 nanocomposite was characterized with several techniques, such as Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and Fourier-Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) spectroscopy. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM). The parameters of pH and contact time were optimized through the one-at-a-time method. Optimal adsorption occurred at pH 5 for Pb (II) and As (III) and pH 6 for Cu (II) and Cd (II). The PZC of the AC@Fe3O4 was determined, and the results indicated that the PZC of the adsorbent is 4.4 To find. The behavior of adsorption of the isotherm models of the Freundlich and Langmuir was studied. The isotherm studied showed that the Freundlich model is better fitted than Langmuir. The kinetic data for the adsorption processes of metal ions were analyzed using a pseudo-first-order model, which accurately represented the results. The positive and negative values of ΔH0 and ΔG0 indicated that the adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous, respectively. The positive sign value of ΔS0 indicates an increase in disorder at the solid-solution interface during adsorption. The AC@Fe3O4 nanocomposite shows considerable promise as an effective adsorbent. The study aimed to develop an efficient, magnetically separable adsorbent for heavy metal removal from contaminated water sources.