Preparation of magnetic cobalt-cuprum-zinc ferrite nanoparticles and their adsorption mechanism of methyl blue

Abstract

Magnetic cobalt-cuprum-zinc ferrites were prepared from anhydrous ethanol using the combustion method, and their structure and properties were characterized using the XRD, SEM, EDS, and VSM techniques, and its formation mechanism was discussed. The magnetic Co0.4Cu0.2Zn0.4Fe2O4 nanoparticles calcined at 400 °C with 25 ml anhydrous ethanol were used for the removal of methyl blue (MB). The results showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model best agreed with the adsorption method. In addition, analysis of the adsorption isotherms using the Freundlich, Langmuir, and Temkin models showed that theTemkin model was most consistent with experimental results, which revealed that the adsorption of MB onto the Co0.4Cu0.2Zn0.4Fe2O4 nanoparticles was a multi-molecular layer chemisorption. Further, the influence of pH on the adsorption capacity was evaluated and was highest at pH 11. The cyclability and removal rate of the nanoparticles were explored. The removal rate was approximately 80% after 7 cycles, revealing that the magnetic CoxCuyZn(1-x-y)Fe2O4 nanoparticles are important for wastewater treatment.