Efficient removal of Pb(II) using modified chitosan Schiff base@Fe/NiFe

A novel modified chitosan Schiff base@Fe2O3-NiFe2O4 (CsSB@Fe/NiFe) was prepared and characterized using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDX, TGA, DSC and VSM. FT-IR and XRD results confirm that the nanoparticles of Fe/NiFe distributed throughout the surface of CS-OH and successfully prepared CsSB@Fe/NiFe. SEM image shows that the Fe/NiFe nanoparticles were assembled in the surface and inside of CS-OH. Coercivity (Hc) of CsSB@Fe/NiFe is ≈ 110 Oe, indicated that it was kind of soft-magnetic materials with saturation magnetization (Ms) of 6.45 emu/g. In addition, CsSB@Fe/NiFe was further explored as an new sorbent for the removal of Pb(II) ion from aqueous solution and the influence of various important parameters such as solution pH, contact time, dosage of adsorbent and initial Pb(II) concentration were studied and optimized. Optimum conditions for Pb(II) removal were found to be pH 5, adsorbent dosage 0.05 g, initial Pb(II) concentration of 75 ppm and contact time of 120 min. The maximum Pb(II) removal percentage was found to be 97%. Also, CsSB@Fe/NiFe shows about 88% Pb(II) removal after five adsorption-desorption cycles. The results suggested that the sorption of Pb(II) onto CsSB@Fe/NiFe was feasible and spontaneous.