Developing and characterizing magnetic nanocomposites for effective metal ion removal in wastewater treatment
Abstract view|30|times PDF download|12|times Supplements download|2|times
Abstract
This research explores the synthesis and application of magnetic nanocomposites as effective adsorbents for the removal of metal ions from wastewater. Using a chemical co-precipitation method, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were modified with branched polyethyleneimine and stover activated carbon,yiclding Fe3O4 /BranchedPolyethylencimine and Fe3O4 pherical-Activated-Carbon adsorbents. These materials were thoroughly characterized to confirm their functional groups and optimized surface structure for heavy metal uptake. Thanks to their paramagnetic properties, the adsorbents are easily recovered and readily recycled. Adsorption efficiency was systematically evaluated by varying contact time, Cu2+ concentration, and adsorbent dosage. Isotherm and kinetic models were applied to elucidate the adsorption mechanisms, with Fe3O4/BranchedPolyethyleneimine best described by the pseudo-second order kinetic model and the Sips isotherm. This study not only provides empirical evidence of the adsorbents’ efficacy but also lays a conceptual foundation for their practical implementation in industrial wastewater treatment applications, paving the way for future advancements in adsorbent technology.
Document Type: Original article
Cited as: Sun, Y., Wei, Z., Bian, D., Zhou, J. Developing and characterizing magnetic nanocomposites for effective metal ion removal in wastewater treatment. Capillarity, 2025, 16(2): 51-60. https://doi.org/10.46690/capi.2025.08.03
Keywords
References
Abdel-Azim, W. E., Elserougi, A. A., Hossam-Eldin, A. A. A modular switched-capacitor voltage multiplier-based multi-module high-voltage pulse generator for electrostatic precipitators applications. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 2023, 65: 503-520.
Alomari, M., Rashid, M. U., Chadalavada, P., et al. Comparison between metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: From nomenclature to clinical outcomes. World Journal of Hepatology, 2023, 15(4): 477.
Alraae, A., Moussadik, A., Benzaouak, A., et al. Cu nanoparticles-decorated beidellite: Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic reduction of wastewater pollutants. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2025, 718: 136885.
Begum, N., Noorliyana, A., Bari, M. F., et al. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies on adsorption of copper ions onto pomelo peel (Citrus grandis). Advanced Materials Research, 2013, 795: 674-678.
BioLegend, Inc. Stable nanomagnetic particle dispersions. U.S., 20160320376, 2020.
Duan, M., Li, Z., Yan, R., et al. Mechanism for combined application of biochar and bacillus cereus to reduce antibiotic resistance genes in copper contaminated soil and lettuce. Science of The Total Environment, 2023, 884: 163422.
Eom, Y. S., Kang, D. H., Choi, D. H. Feasibility of applying an electrostatic precipitator integrated with a naturally ventilated double-skin façade in residential buildings. Journal of Building Engineering, 2023, 68: 106065.
Han, Y., Xiao, L., Chen, H. Chemical agglomeration to enhance blast furnace dust capture efficiency in wet electrostatic precipitators. Coatings, 2022, 12(12): 1937.
Holubˇcík, M., Drga, J., ˇCajová Kantová, N., et al. Optimization of discharging electrodes of a multi-chamber electrostatic precipitator for small heat sources. Atmosphere, 2022, 14(1): 63.
Hussain, M., Hussaini, S. S., Shariq, M., et al. Enhancing Cu2+ ion removal: an innovative approach utilizing modified frankincense gum combined with multiwalled carbon tubes and iron oxide nanoparticles as adsorbent. Molecules, 2023, 28(11): 4494.
Inbaraj, B. S., Sridhar, K., Chen, B. H. Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water by magnetic activated carbon nanocomposite from green tea waste. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2021, 415: 125701.
Järvinen, A., Lehtoranta, K., Aakko-Saksa, P., et al. Performance of a wet electrostatic precipitator in marine applications. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 2023, 11(2): 393.
Jiang, L., Li, N., Li, X., et al. Phytoremediation of coppercontaminated soils by drip or sprinkling irrigation coupled with intercropping. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023, 30(33): 81303-81313.
Kelarijani, A. F., Zanjani, N. G., Pirzaman, A. K. Ultrasonic assisted transesterification of rapeseed oil to biodiesel using nano magnetic catalysts. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 2020, 11(6): 2613-2621.
Kergoat, L., Dabrin, A., Masson, M., et al. Clogging modulates the copper effects on microbial communities of streambed sediments. Ecotoxicology, 2023, 32(3): 321335.
Kim, Y. S., Lee, Y., Kim, Y. J., et al. Improvement of an in-duct two-stage electrostatic precipitator via diffusion charging. Toxics, 2022, 10(11): 686.
Kubrakova, I. V., Pryazhnikov, D. V. Microwave-assisted synthesis of nanosized magnetic sorbents. Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 2021, 76: 15-25.
Li, T., Yang, C., Wei, Z., et al. Recent advances of magnetic nanomaterials in the field of oncology. OncoTargets and Therapy, 2020, 13: 4825-4832.
Litvinov, D. Nanomagnetism and nanomagnetic materials. IEEE Nanotechnology Magazine, 2020, 14(1): 5.
Liu, S., Hubao, A., Tang, S., et al. Molecular insights into structural and dynamic properties of water molecules in calcium silicate hydrate nanopores: The roles of pore size and temperature. Capillarity, 2023, 8(2): 23-33.
Li, Y., Mu, D., Wu, H., et al. Derivation of copper water quality criteria in Bohai Bay for the protection of local aquatic life and the ecological risk assessment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2023, 190: 114863.
Mei, Y., Li, B., Fan, S. Biochar from rice straw for Cu2+ removal from aqueous solutions: Mechanism and contribution made by acid-soluble minerals. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2020, 231(8): 420.
Meng, J., Feng, X., Dai, Z., et al. Adsorption characteristics of Cu (II) from aqueous solution onto biochar derived from swine manure. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2014, 21: 7035-7046.
Miao, J., Liu, A., Wu, L., et al. Magnetic ferroferric oxide and polydopamine molecularly imprinted polymer nanocomposites based electrochemical impedance sensor for the selective separation and sensitive determination of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). Analytica Chimica Acta, 2020, 1095: 82-92.
Mitamura, Y., Nishimura, I., Yano, T. Thermal analysis of a miniature magnetic fluid seal installed in an implantable rotary pump. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 2022, 548: 168977.
Morán, J., Li, L., Ouyang, H., et al. Characterization of the bidimensional size and charge distribution of sub-and supermicrometer particles in an electrostatic precipitator. Powder Technology, 2023, 425: 118578.
Nguyen, A. H., Gunawardhana, T., Siddiqui, S. I., et al. An enzymatically modified adsorbent derived from an agro-residue mitigates the environmental risks of toxic antibiotic mixtures. Environmental Research, 2025, 270: 121038.
Niu, Y., Ying, D., Jia, J. Continuous adsorption of copper ions by chitosan-based fiber in adsorption bed. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2019, 145(8): 04019041.
Oliveira, A. F., Machado, R. B., Ferreira, A. M., et al. Coppercontaminated substrate biosorption by Penicillium sp. isolated from kefir grains. Microorganisms, 2023, 11(6): 1439.
Palani, S., Mathivanan, A., Kumar, A. Low cost and compact electrostatic precipitator model controlled by smoke detector. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. IOP Publishing, 2022, 1100(1): 012029.
Poggere, G., Gasparin, A., Barbosa, J. Z., et al. Soil contamination by copper: Sources, ecological risks, and mitigation strategies in Brazil. Journal of Trace Elements and Minerals, 2023, 4: 100059.
Ren, Z., Yang, Z., Zhao, Z., et al. MgO functionalized magnetic activated carbon material for efficient removal of malachite green from aqueous solutions. Nano, 2021, 16(5): 2150054.
Rijk, I., Berkelund, L., Ekblad, A., et al. Effects of copper contamination on N cycling microbial guilds and plant performance in two contrasting grassland soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2023, 180: 109015.
Shao, W., Yang, J., Wang, H., et al. Recent research progress on imbibition system of nanoparticle-surfactant dispersions. Capillarity, 2023, 8(2): 34-44.
Sugumar, K., Vignesh, G., Arunachalam, S. A comparative study on interactions of ternary copper (ii) complexes and their analogues anchored polymer (bpei) with serum albumins. Chemistry Select, 2021, 6(22): 5387-5398.
Sun, Y., Chen, J, Wei, Z., et al. Copper ion removal from aqueous media using banana peel biochar/Fe3O4/branched polyethyleneimine. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2023, 658: 130736.
Sun, Y., Wei, Z., Zhou, J., et al. Modification of magnetorheological fluid and its compatibility with metal skeleton: Insights from multi-body dissipative particle dynamics simulations and experimental study. Physics of Fluids, 2024, 36(3): 032020.
Ta´nski, M., Reza, A., Przytuła, D., et al. Electrostatic precipitator with surface dielectric barrier discharge ionizer. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023, 404: 136990.
Tian, F., Zhou, J., Shao, C., et al. Effective recovery of oil slick using the prepared high hydrophobic and oleophilic Fe3O4 magnetorheological fluid. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2020, 591: 124531.
Wang, X., Ma, S., Wang, X., et al. The mechanism of Cu2+ sorption by rice straw biochar and its sorption-desorption capacity to Cu2+ in soil. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2022, 109(3): 562-570.
Wang, Y., Li, Z., Yang, N., et al. Kinetics of copper ion leaching from cement-solidified body of blast furnace slag adsorbing copper ion. Materials Science Forum, 2021, 1035: 1036-1042.
Wang, Z., Li, S., Xu, Z., et al. Advances and challenges in foam stability: Applications, mechanisms, and future directions. Capillarity, 2025, 15(3): 58-73.
Xiao, L., Zhai, X., Han, Y., et al. Experimental study on humidification coagulation and removal of fine particles using an electrostatic precipitator. Polymers, 2023, 15(9): 2065.
Yang, L., Zhang, X., Yang, J., et al. A rhodamine-based chemosensor and functionalized gel ball for detecting and adsorbing copper ions. Tetrahedron, 2021a, 80: 131893.
Yang, X., Guan, Y., Huang, Y. Numerical and experimental study of the embedded magnetic fluid seal with a small gap. Physica Scripta, 2021b, 96(12): 125023.
Yang, X., Song, Y., Sun, P., et al. Design and experimental study on divergent magnetic fluid seal with large clearance and dual magnetic sources. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2022, 2022(1): 4637689.
Yu, Z., Liu, J., Shen, R., et al. An efficient thumbtack-cylinder type wet electrostatic precipitator for moxa smoke aerosol control. Powder Technology, 2023, 424: 118562.
Zheng, L., Jiang, J., Xiao, W., et al. A NMR investigation of spontaneous and forced imbibition of shale under different flow and confinement conditions. Capillarity, 2025, 14(2): 53-62.
Zheng, X., Zhang, X., Hu, Q., et al. Adsorption and photocatalytic activity of nano-magnetic materials Fe3O4@C@TiO2-AgBr-Ag for rhodamine B. Current
Zhu, Y., Tao, S., Liu, J., et al. Experimental research of capture enhancement mechanism of submicron particles by designing two-stage electrostatic precipitators with various ratios of charger and collector units. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 2023, 189: 52-63.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.