abstract
Spinel ferrite particles (Fe3O4, MnFe2O4, and CoFe2O4) were investigated as magnetic nanosorbents for removing arsenic from spiked water samples. The nanosorbents were collected via magnetic separation from aqueous solutions spiked with an arsenic concentration that mimics the amount of this contaminant in real water samples. This research shows that using amounts of CoFe2O4 or MnFe2O4 as low as 40 mg/L, the arsenic content in the contaminated water decreased for levels below the maximum admitted value by the World Health Organization for drinking waters (10 mu g/L). Moreover, these magnetic nanosorbents also showed good performance for As(V) sorption, when applied to aqueous matrices with variable ionic strength and in the mixtures of other several hazardous contaminants. The good performance observed for the MnFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 ferrites contrasts with the one observed for Fe3O4 nanosorbent, whose efficiency is lower in the removal of As(V) from water, nevertheless increased with the presence of other elements in solution.
keywords
AQUEOUS-SOLUTION; MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES; ADSORPTION; FE3O4; PRECIPITATION; NANOCOMPOSITE; ADSORBENTS; ARSENATE; SORPTION; MNFE2O4
subject category
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
authors
Tavares, DS; Lopes, CB; Almeida, JC; Vale, C; Pereira, E; Trindade, T
our authors
Joana C. Almeida
Researcher
Tito Trindade
Full professoracknowledgements
This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020), CESAM (UID/AMB/50017), and CIIMAR (UID/Multi/04423/2013) financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES and when appropriate co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. Daniela S. Tavares thanks the funds through the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) for the doctoral grant (SFRH/BD//103828/2014), and Claudia B. Lopes acknowledges the costs resulting from the FCT hirings funded by national funds (OE), through FCT, I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5, and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19.