Biogenic synthesis of ferrous(III) oxide and Fe3O4/SiO2 using Chlorella sp. and its adsorption properties of water contaminated with copper(II) ions

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are gaining popularity because of their small size allowing for research into the fundamentals of magnetism. In wastewater treatment, adsorption methods commonly remove heavy metals, but copper (Cu⁺²) ion removal using magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) has not been investigated. In this study two different modes were used to determine maximum adsorption capacity to remove copper(II). The nanoparticles containing the Fe₃O₄ with Chlorella, core-shell Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ with Chlorella sp. synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis, the morphology observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), crystalline structure, and grain size provided by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Copper(II) ion removal showed in both modes. The maximum copper(II) ion reduction percent was obtained by nanoparticles containing core-shell Fe₃O₄/Chlorella 80.3%, Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ with Chlorella sp. (86.9%) the result showed maximum removal using Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ with Chlorella sp. due to increase of surface area. The results indicate that the adsorption using magnetic nanoparticles with Chlorella sp. enhances the cell surface and provides easy access to the separation for both preparation and recapture.

KEY WORDS: Copper(II) ion, Magnetic nanoparticles, Chlorella sp., SiO₂ core-shell, Adsorption capacity percent

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(3), 585-596.                                                            

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i3.8