Study on the Adsorption of CuFe₂O₄-Loaded Corncob Biochar for Pb(II)

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Heavy metal contamination in wastewater poses significant environmental and health risks.
• Biochar derived from agricultural waste offers a sustainable platform for adsorbent development.
• Magnetic nanoparticles can enhance adsorbent recovery and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize magnetic CuFe2O4-loaded corncob biochar (CuFe2O4@CCBC) materials.
• To investigate the adsorption performance of CuFe2O4@CCBC for lead (Pb(II)) removal from aqueous solutions.
• To elucidate the adsorption mechanism and thermodynamic behavior of Pb(II) onto the developed adsorbent.

Main Methods:

• Two-step impregnation of corncob biochar followed by oxalate pyrolysis to synthesize CuFe2O4@CCBC.
• Characterization using XRD, SEM, VSM, BET, and pHZPC measurements.
• Batch adsorption experiments to study Pb(II) removal kinetics, thermodynamics, and influencing factors.

Main Results:

• CuFe2O4 nanoparticles were homogeneously coated on CCBC with a face-centered cubic crystalline phase.
• CuFe2O4@CCBC(5%) exhibited a high surface area (74.98 m2·g-1) and saturation magnetization (5.75 emu·g-1).
• The pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models best described Pb(II) adsorption, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 132.10 mg·g-1 at 30 °C and pH 5.0.
• Adsorption was endothermic and entropy-driven, with removal primarily via ion exchange and complexation.

Conclusions:

• Magnetic CuFe2O4@CCBC is a highly efficient and eco-friendly adsorbent for Pb(II) removal.
• The magnetic properties facilitate easy separation and potential for reuse.
• This material shows great promise for treating heavy metal-contaminated wastewater streams.