Adsorption of mercury from aqueous solution on synthetic polydopamine nanocomposite based on magnetic nanoparticles using Box-Behnken design

The aim of this study is to examine the possibility of using synthesized functional polydopamine@Fe3O4 nanocomposite (PDA@Fe3O4) with magnetic response and a special surface area as the most effective adsorbent to remove the mercury (Hg(II)) from aqueous solution in batch process (in batch mode/ in batch phase/ in bath processing/ in a batch process). The structural characterization of this nanocomposite was performed by XRD, TEM, TGA and FTIR analyses. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the Hg(II) adsorption capacity mg/g with three experimental factors using Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimum conditions included: pH 5.36, Hg(II) initial concentration 98.65 mg/g, contact time 5.17 h. The maximum adsorption capacity of Hg(II) in batch administrations was 307 mg/g. (C) 2017 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.