Selective adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by EDA-Fe₃O₄nanoparticles prepared from steel pickling waste liquor

In this study, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) prepared from steel pickling waste liquor were functionalized with ethylenediamine (EDA) to form EDA-Fe₃O₄ NPs for engineering applications. The obtained EDA-Fe₃O₄NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface analyzer and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the EDA-Fe₃O₄ NPs had a crystalline structure with a particle size range of 20–50 nm and a BET surface area of 28 m² gˉ¹. Functionalization with EDA was able to improve the adsorption selectivity of Fe₃O4 for Cr(VI) in Cr(VI)/Clˉor Cr(VI)/SO₄²ˉ double-mixture systems. The adsorption isotherm data fitted better to the Langmuir adsorption model, and the adsorption kinetics was better described by the pseudo-second order equation. The spontaneous and endothermic characteristics of this adsorption reaction were confirmed by thermodynamic study. Based on the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrostatic attraction and surface complexation between Cr(VI) and EDA-Fe₃O4 NPs are postulated as mechanisms for the adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The EDA-Fe₃O₄ NPs retained a high adsorption capacity after several consecutive adsorption–desorption processes, indicating that EDA-Fe₃O₄ NPs serve as an excellent regenerable adsorbent for Cr(VI). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V.