Adsorption studies on copper,cadmium, and zinc ion removal from aqueous solution using magnetite/carbon nanocomposites

Magnetite/carbon nanocomposites were tested as adsorbents for removal of metal ions from aqueous solutions. The effect of adsorption parameters such as solutions pH (ranging between 2 and 9), the nature and the quantity of the sorbent (10, 20, 40, and 60 mg), initial concentration of metal ions (10, 30, 50, 100, and 150 mg/L), and temperature (25, 45, and 65°C) was evaluated. The removal efficiency of metal ions depends on solution pH and increases with increasing carbon content, the dose of magnetite/carbon nanocomposites, and the temperature and decrease with initial concentration of the metal ions. The adsorption kinetics was described by pseudo-second-order model, and the equilibrium experimental data were well fitted to the Sips isotherm, yielding a maximum adsorption capacity of 41.11, 76.67, and 48.45 mg/g for copper, cadmium, and zinc, respectively. The thermodynamic parameter Gibbs free energy was determined to be negative, which indicated that the adsorption process is spontaneous. The optimum conditions (1 g/L adsorbent, 25°C, and pH 6) were selected for removal of metal ions from real wastewaters, with good results indicating that investigated nanocomposites could be used for the application in real systems.