In situ fabrication of magnetic particles decorated biopolymeric composite beads for the selective remediation of phosphate and nitrate from aqueous medium

Nowadays, efficient and selective remediation of phosphate and nitrate ions from water/ wastewater is a problematical task. In this study, magnetic particles (Fe3O4) decorated GO-CMC (Fe3O4@GO-CMC) composite beads were synthesized via the one-pot process and applied for the remediation of phosphate and nitrate from aqueous medium. XRD, BET, SEM, FTIR, EDAX with mapping images and TGA analysis were done on the synthesized beads in order to examine the structural and textural properties. Batch scale adsorption experiments in phosphate and nitrate solution demonstrated the dynamic behaviours of phosphate and nitrate remediation using Fe3O4@GO-CMC composite beads under various experimental conditions such as agitation time, the influence of beads dosage, solution pH, zero point charge and co-interfering anions. The adsorption isotherm experiments, the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model showed a superior fit than the Langmuir isotherm model, yielding the maximum removal capacity of 84.90 and 76.01 mg/g for phosphate and nitrate ions, respectively. The removal mechanisms and adsorption-desorption experiments were also examined. The aptness of Fe3O4@GO-CMC composite beads at field trail was also analysed by real sample collected from nearby eutrophic endemic area. These results suggested that the Fe3O4@GO-CMC composite beads could be a suitable material for the remediation of phosphate and nitrate ions from wastewater treatments.