Potential of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CoFe2O4) for remediation of hexavalent chromium from synthetic and printing press wastewater

• Removal efficiency of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles for chromium ions was investigated.
• The saturation magnetization of nanoparticles was determined to be 50.8 Am2 kg−1.
• Langmuir adsorption capacity of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles was calculated to be 16.73 mg g−1.

Cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized, characterized and utilized for the treatment of chromium containing synthetic wastewater and printing press wastewater. Characterization of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles was carried out by XRD, TEM, SEM, AFM, VSM and BET surface area analysis. TEM analysis confirmed the formation of nanoparticles in the range of approximate 12–21 nm having the surface area of 41.31 m2 g−1. The saturation magnetization of nanoparticles was determined to be 50.8 Am2 kg−1. Langmuir adsorption capacity of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles was calculated to be 16.73 mg g−1. Kinetic study revealed that the Cr(VI) removal on CoFe2O4 nanoparticles followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Further, the temperature study revealed the endothermic nature of Cr(VI) adsorption. Thermodynamic study revealed the feasibility of Cr(VI) adsorption on CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. Desorption study suggested that nanoparticles could be efficiently reused up to three cycles. The present study demonstrated that synthesized nanoparticles were quite efficient for the treatment of chromium ions and other metallic ions from printing press wastewater which further suggested that CoFe2O4 nanoparticles could be successfully used for the treatment of metal- rich industrial effluents.

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