Different routes for MgFe/LDH synthesis and application to remove pollutants of emerging concern

Abstract Seven different routes to produce MgFe Layer Double Hydroxides (LDH) were tested. This study aims to explore different methods of MgFe-LDH synthesis and to analyze the physicochemical properties of the obtained materials (phase purity, crystallinity, and textural features). For this, synthesized materials via co-precipitation, hydrothermal, ultrasound irradiation and microwave were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, EDX, zeta potential and N2 adsorption/desorption. The characterization study allowed to classify, in terms of adsorption applications, as the best material formed, that obtained by synthesis with ultrasound irradiation followed by hydrothermal treatment. Then, the efficiency for the applicability of the materials was tested by removing pollutants of emerging concern (nitrate, antibiotic rifampicin, and hormone 17-α-methyltestosterone from water). For the hormone, removal was not satisfactory, achieving only 9.4% for microwave synthesis followed by hydrothermal treatment. On the other hand, ultrasound synthesis followed by hydrothermal, was able to remove 76.6% of Nitrate and 82.5% of rifampicin. Such findings corroborate the physical-chemical properties presented by the materials characterizations. As well as they suggest a synthesis route for an adsorbent capable of removing both inorganic and organic pollutants that has raised great concerns about the presence and bioaccumulation in aquatic environments.