Synthesis and Characterization of KFeP 2 O 7 Nanoparticles Implanted in Silica

Rivers and aquifers are increasingly affected worldwide by the action of agro-industrial pollution. Facing this challenge, nanoparticles have found a wide range of applications in the decontamination and remediation of water, given the characteristics which make them highly reactive to specific substances. One of the simplest ways of gaining access to these particles is through their synthesis over a sufficiently rigid matrix of manageable size. This report describes the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles of iron and potassium diphosphate (KFeP2O7) synthesized on silica gel beads (SiO2). Analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have been applied in order to determine the mineral phases and morphology of the synthesized compounds. Complementary tests were conducted so as to determine surface characteristics such as specific area by the BET method and point of zero charge (pHpzc) by mass titration. The acid-base titration enabled to determine the adsorptive nature of nanoparticles and their response to a pH range from 1 to 12.