Synthesis of Manganese Dioxide Nano-particles (MnO2) and Their Copper Removal Efficiency from Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

Removal of copper from aqueous solutions was investigated using manganese dioxide nanoparticles as a new and suitable adsorbent. For this purpose, manganese dioxide nanoparticles were synthesized using the cathode electrochemical deposition method and the effects of pH, contact time, MnO2 concentration, and copper concentration on copper removal efficiency were investigated in a batch system. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), XRD, and FTIR were used to characterize the synthesized manganese dioxide nanoparticles. Results showed that nanoparticle diameters ranged from 30 to 50 nm and that a copper adsorption efficiency of bove 96% percent would be achieved at an optimum pH of 7. It was found that increasing the copper concentration and reducing adsorbent dosage led to enhancements in adsorption capacity but slight reductions in adsorption efficiency. Experimental data also indicated that copper adsorption fitted the Freundlich model with an adsorption capacity of above 169 mg.g‒1 and that it obeyed a pseudo-second order kinetic equation. It was concluded that manganese dioxide nanoparticles may be used as a suitable adsorbent with a high potential for the removal of copper from aqueous solutions.

Keywords

• MnO2 Nanoparticles
• Electrochemical Synthesis of Cathode
• Copper Removal
• Aqueous solutions