Silver/quartz nanocomposite as an adsorbent for removal of mercury (II) ions from aqueous solutions
Rasha S. El-Tawil,
Shaimaa T. El-Wakeel,
Ashraf E. Abdel-Ghany,
Hanaa A.M. Abuzeid,
Khaled A. Selim,
Ahmed M. Hashem
Affiliations
Rasha S. El-Tawil
National Research Centre, Inorganic Chemistry Department, 33 El Bohouth St., (former El Tahrir St.), Dokki-Giza, 12622, Egypt
Shaimaa T. El-Wakeel
National Research Centre, Water Pollution Research Department, Environmental Research Division, 33 El Bohouth St., (former El Tahrir St.), Dokki-Giza, 12622, Egypt
Ashraf E. Abdel-Ghany
National Research Centre, Inorganic Chemistry Department, 33 El Bohouth St., (former El Tahrir St.), Dokki-Giza, 12622, Egypt
Hanaa A.M. Abuzeid
National Research Centre, Inorganic Chemistry Department, 33 El Bohouth St., (former El Tahrir St.), Dokki-Giza, 12622, Egypt
Khaled A. Selim
Central Metallurgical Research & Development Institute, Minerals Technology Department, CMRDI, Cairo, Egypt
Ahmed M. Hashem
National Research Centre, Inorganic Chemistry Department, 33 El Bohouth St., (former El Tahrir St.), Dokki-Giza, 12622, Egypt; Corresponding author.
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver/quartz nanocomposite (Ag/Q)NPs)) were synthesized by sol-gel method using table sugar as chelating agent. The synthesized nanosized materials were used for mercury ions adsorption from aqueous solutions. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron microscope (TEM), and surface area (BET). Adsorption of Hg2+ (10 mg/l) is strongly dependent on time, initial metal concentration, dose of adsorbent and pH value. Silver/quartz nanocomposite ((Ag/Q)NPs)) shows better efficiency than individual silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This composite removed mercury ions from the aqueous solution with efficiency of 96% at 60 min with 0.5g adsorbent dosage at pH 6. The adsorption process explained well by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In conclusion silver/quartz nanocomposite (Ag/Q)NPs)) shows higher removal efficiency for mercury ions from aqueous solutions than individual silver naoparticles (AgNPs) or quartz (Q).
