One-pot synthesis of novel magnetic three-dimensional graphene/ chitosan/nickel ferrite nanocomposite for lead ions removal from aqueous solution: RSM modelling design

In this work, magnetic chitosan-functionalized 3D graphene nanocomposite decorated with NiFe2O4 nanoparticles (MCF3DG) was prepared by a one-pot hydrothermal process through simple cross-linking of graphene oxide (GO) using chitosan (Ch). The nanocomposite has honeycomb morphology and has been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Response surface methodology (RSM) has been applied in order to study the influence of operational parameters (pH, lead ions concentration, adsorbent dosage and contact time) on the removal efficiency of lead ions with MCF3DG as a novel adsorbent. The results indicated that the efficiency of Pb(II) removal is 100% under the optimum conditions of experimental factors (pH = 8.5, the amount of adsorbent = 36 mg, Pb(II) concentration = 26 mg L-1, volume = 200 mL and contact time = 18 min). These results suggest that this nanocomposite possess great potential for removing lead ions from aqueous solutions as a heavy metal ion model. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.