Adsorption of Pb(II) From Aqueous Solutions Using Fe3O4@APTES@4-DMAB Nanomaterial

This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles coated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (4-DMAB), aimed at their application in the adsorption of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions. The characterization of the Fe3O4@APTES@4-DMAB nanomaterial was conducted using several techniques, including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The synthesized spherical nanoparticles, measuring between 20 and 50 nm, exhibited stability without degradation during the coating process, and the successful coating with 4-DMAB was confirmed. Under optimal conditions—namely, a pH of 7, an adsorbent mass of 10 mg, and a contact duration of 30 minutes—the nanomaterial effectively adsorbed Pb(II) ions. The concentration of the metal ions was quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). To facilitate the recovery of the adsorbed Pb(II) ions, a desorption agent consisting of 0.5 mol/L HCl was utilized. Overall, the successfully synthesized and characterized Fe3O4@APTES@4-DMAB nanomaterial exhibited promising Pb(II) recovery results.