Nanostructured Iron Oxides: Structural, Optical, Magnetic, and Adsorption Characteristics for Cleaning Industrial Effluents

Globally, efforts are being made to upgrade and improvise the current wastewater treatment technologies. Industrial wastewater is being generated exponentially, owing to the expansion in chemical industries and civilizations necessitating remediation to prevent further environmental damage and lower associated human risks. In this work, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have been developed and employed as an efficient nanocatalyst for heavy metal adsorption via the chemical route. The shape, absorbance optical, crystal phase, and magnetization of as-prepared magnetic nanostructures were characterized using XRD (X-ray diffraction), UV-Vis (ultraviolet-visible), HRTEM (High-resolution transmission electron microscopy), FTIR (Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy), and VSM. Further, the adsorption ability of iron oxide to remove the bulk metallic elements considering cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni), present in industrial effluents, were studied. The Maghemite Fe2O3 crystal phase having an R-3c group is observed in the XRD results. An identical shape of spherical nanostructures is determined using TEM including approximate to 21 nm for pure Fe2O3. A removal % was studied by using ICP-OES, and showed a Cr (61.2%), Cd (98%), Cu (66%), Ni (64%), Zn (97%), and Pb (98%) removal ability. The application of such monitored nanomaterials to effluent cleaning and sewage discharge emitted via labs and petrochemical industries could be expanded.

Automated summary

Efforts are being made globally to upgrade and improve wastewater treatment technologies. Industrial wastewater generation is increasing exponentially due to the expansion of chemical industries and civilizations, leading to the need for remediation to prevent further environmental damage and reduce human risks. This study developed and utilized iron oxide nanoparticles as efficient nanocatalysts for heavy metal adsorption via a chemical route. The adsorption ability of iron oxide for the removal of metallic elements in industrial effluents was investigated.