Magnesium ferrite-based composites for water treatment: synthesis strategies, adsorption performance, modelling and...

Magnesium ferrite (MgFe₂O₄)-based materials serve as effective agents for environmental remediation due to adjustable surface chemistry and inherent magnetic properties. This review evaluates synthesis protocols, structural characterization, and the adsorptive removal of diverse aqueous contaminants. Integrating MgFe₂O₄ into porous architectures, such as biochar, graphene oxide, zeolites, and metal-organic frameworks, expands the specific surface area up to 1300 m² g^-1. These composites exhibit high adsorption capacities across various categories of heavy metals, dyes, antibiotics, and other pollutants. Specific maximum uptake values reach 745.4 mg g^-1 for Pb(ii), 1058.7 mg g^-1 for Congo red dye, and 308.5 mg g^-1 for doxycycline. The removal process operates via concurrent mechanisms, including electrostatic attraction, surface complexation, ion exchange, and π-π electron donor-acceptor interactions. Furthermore, the superparamagnetic nature of the composites allows rapid magnetic separation from aqueous phases. Reusability assessments confirm stable performance over multiple regeneration cycles using solvent or acid desorption. Consequently, these MgFe₂O₄-based composites offer efficient, sustainable, and recyclable options for industrial wastewater treatment.