Removal of Pb2+, Hg2+, and Cu2+ by Chain-Like Fe3O4@SiO2@Chitosan Magnetic Nanoparticles

In this paper, the chain-like core–shell structure Fe3O4@SiO2@Chitosan composite nanoparticles were synthesized by a two-step coating and following crosslinking glutaraldehyde on chitosan shell. The composite particles showed nearly monodisperse 105 sized particles with a core diameter of 80 nm and chitosan shell thickness of 12 nm. The synthesis conditions of the product were studied, and the morphology and properties of the composite nanoparticles were characterized by IR, XRD, TEM, SEM, EDS and VSM. The adsorption properties of Hg2+, Pb2+ or Cu2+ ions on Fe3O4, Fe3 O4@SiO2 and the composite particles were in detail studied using the colorimetric method based on forming colored mercuric dithizone, rhodamine-Pb2+ complex and DDTC-Cu(2+) complex. The results showed, adsorption isotherm, kinetics and separation coefficient of heavy metal ions on these three magnetic nanoparticles were concerned with pH, metal ions’ electronic configuration, silica coating and chitosan shell respectively. In addition, the recycle efficiency was also studied. The findings demonstrated that Fe3O4@SiO2@Chitosan composite nanoparticles have great application value in the adsorption and separation of heavy metal ions.