Functionalization of activated carbons with magnetic Iron oxide nanoparticles for removal of copper ions from aqueous solution

Magnetic activated carbon particles (MACP) were fabricated using a facile co-precipitation method and employed as an adsorbent for the removal of Cu ions from aqueous solutions. The application of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity and regeneration efficiency of the MACP adsorbents. The Fe3O4 magnetite loading onto the carbon matrix is a crucial factor for an efficient removal of copper ions. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) adsorption models were used to validate the adsorption isotherms. Both the equilibrium rate constant (Langmuir model) and the adsorption energy (D-R model) show an increase in the deposition of magnetite nanoparticles. The presence of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles further facilitates the regeneration efficiency of Cu-adsorbed intermediates from the MACP adsorbents. Superior magnetic property enabled via the utilization of Fe3O4 nanoparticles significantly enhanced the separation efficiency and regeneration of spent MACP adsorbents. Therefore, the design procedure explained in this work for preparing the MACP adsorbents can be adopted for various environmental applications dealing with separation processes. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.