Structural, morphological, magnetic and adsorption properties of Fe3O4 for copper removal from aqueous solution

In this work, the magnetite nanoparticles (MNP) were synthesized from steel waste product and used as an adsorbent to remove metal copper (Cu) in an aqueous solution.The magnetite powders were mechanically alloying using high energy ball milling for 3, 6, and 9 h to produce MNP.The structural, composition, magnetic properties and morphological of the MNP were characterized using X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer and transmission electron microscopy, respectively.The adsorption parameters and the surface area of the MNP were studied using a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and atomic absorption spectrophotometer.The parameters of contact time, temperature, pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial Cu concentration of the solution were investigated.The kinetic studies of the pseudo-second-order model were successfully employed.Langmuir model (R 2 > 0.993) were more correspond with the adsorption isotherm data of Cu(II) ions.According to the results from adsorption thermodynamic studies, it can be inferred that the main adsorption mechanism between MNP absorbent and Cu(II) ions is ion-exchange-surface mechanism.The highlight of this work is the adsorption properties and the characterization of the MNP as a natural, low-cost and good potential adsorbent for the waste treatment process.