Low-Cost Magnetic Adsorbents for Water Remediation

Magnetic composites prepared from magnetite nanoparticles and tea waste were synthesized and applied as adsorbents for the removal of three pollutants (an organic dye, a metal ion, and a pharmaceutical product) from wastewater. These magnetic materials were characterized by several technics as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (WAXD), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and zeta potential analysis. The effects of various physicochemical parameters such as contact time, pH, and pollutant concentration on the adsorption capacities of these nanomaterials were studied. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics were determined and discussed by considering various theoretical models.