Molecules (Jun 2023)

Enhancing Cu<sup>2+</sup> Ion Removal: An Innovative Approach Utilizing Modified Frankincense Gum Combined with Multiwalled Carbon Tubes and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Adsorbent

  • Mushtaq Hussain,
  • Syed Sulaiman Hussaini,
  • Mohammad Shariq,
  • Hanan Alzahrani,
  • Arafa A. Alholaisi,
  • Samar H. Alharbi,
  • Sirajah A. Alsharif,
  • Wafa Al-Gethami,
  • Syed Kashif Ali,
  • Abdel-Nasser M. A. Alaghaz,
  • Mohd Asim Siddiqui,
  • Kondaiah Seku

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28114494
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 28, no. 11
p. 4494

Abstract

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Aquatic pollution, which includes organic debris and heavy metals, is a severe issue for living things. Copper pollution is hazardous to people, and there is a need to develop effective methods for eliminating it from the environment. To address this issue, a novel adsorbent composed of frankincense-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Fr-MMWCNTs) and Fe3O4 [Fr-MWCNT-Fe3O4] was created and subjected to characterization. Batch adsorption tests showed that Fr-MWCNT-Fe3O4 had a maximum adsorption capacity of 250 mg/g at 308 K and could efficiently remove Cu2+ ions over a pH range of 6 to 8. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, and its thermodynamics were identified as endothermic. Functional groups on the surface of modified MWCNTs improved their adsorption capacity, and a rise in temperature increased the adsorption efficiency. These results highlight the Fr-MWCNT-Fe3O4 composites’ potential as an efficient adsorbent for removing Cu2+ ions from untreated natural water sources.

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