Magnetically recoverable facile nanomaterials: Synthesis, characterization and application in remediation of heavy metals

The present work reports a facile route for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) immobilization on the surface of amine-terminated Fe3O4 nanoparticles for remediation of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Transmission electron microscopy images showed both Fe3O4–NH2 and Fe3O4–NH2/PEI-EDTA magnetic nanoparticles with an average diameter of 60 nm. The FT-IR study confirmed the chemical covalent modification of EDTA on the surface of amine-terminated magnetite nanoparticles. XRD analysis demonstrated that the magnetic nanoparticles had a high crystallinity before and after modification. Magnetic measurements indicated that these nanoparticles could be easily removed through external magnetic force. The research work on the adsorption revealed that the concentration of Pb2+ altered from 10 to 0.12 mg/L and it indicated that 98.8% of Pb2+ could be removed from aqueous solutions at pH 5.05, and Fe3O4–NH2/PEI-EDTA loaded heavy metal ions after being treated with 0.1 M HCl could be used as a reusable nano-adsorbent.