Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Applied Natural Science, Adama Science and Technology University, P.O. Box 1888, Adama, Ethiopia

Abstract

Humic acid modified magnetite nanoparticles (HA-Fe3O4 NPs) were synthesized by co-precipitation method by varying the precursor magnetite to HA ratio of 10:1 and 20:1. The synthesized NPs were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDX and UV-Vis DR Techniques. The appearance of C=O vibration at 1390 cm -1 confirms positive interaction of carboxylate anion of HA and Fe3O4. The XRD pattern and SEM image shows bare Fe3O4 and HA-Fe3O4 (10:1 and 20:1) exhibit cubic spinel structure and the spherical shape morphology, respectively. The crystallite sizes of NPs were found to be 11.50 nm, 9.17 nm and 12.65 nm for bare, 10:1 and 20:1 Fe3O4-NPs, respectively. The adsorption capacity for the dye was found to increase with increase in contact time, adsorbent dose and initial pH of the solution. The result was best fitted to pseudo 2 nd order kinetics model and Langmuir isotherm model. The methylene blue (MB) removal efficiency of bare, 10:1 and 20:1 Fe3O4-NPs from aqueous solutions was recorded to be 95.8%, 99.4%, and 97.6%, respectively. The study confirms the greater efficiency of HA-Fe3O4 NPs compared to bare Fe3O4 for the removal of MB dye. The MB removal efficiency of HA-Fe3O4 NPs was found to be proportional to amount of adsorbed HA. Copyright © VBRI Press.

Graphical Abstract

Synthesis and Characterization of Humic Acid-coated Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Methylene Blue Adsorption Activity

Keywords