Utilization of magnesium and zinc oxide nano-adsorbents as potential materials for treatment of copper electroplating industry wastewater

Magnesium and zinc oxide nano-adsorbents were prepared for the removal of copper from industrial waste water. The size, morphology, chemical composition and structure of nano-adsorbents were established through powder XRD, SEM, AFM and EDX. The maximum adsorption capacities obtained for ZnO and MgO are 226 and 593 mg/g, respectively at initial pH of 3–4 when 0.3 and 0.2 g of adsorbent dose was utilized while maintaining the temperature at 70 °C. Though both nano-adsorbents were found effective in removing 92–98% Cu from industrial samples but MgO has better adsorption potential as compared to ZnO and found to obey pseudo-first order and Freundlich isotherm models. This study indicated that both nano MgO and nano ZnO can be used as effective, low cost and environment friendly nano-adsorbent for electroplating waste effluent treatment.