Removal of Copper (II) Ions from Aqueous Solution Using a Sol-Gel Derived Strontium Ferrite Nanoparticle

Liew, Jerome (2022) Removal of Copper (II) Ions from Aqueous Solution Using a Sol-Gel Derived Strontium Ferrite Nanoparticle. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Heavy metal pollution has always been a subject in the topics of environmental health. Therefore, novel methodologies to remove heavy metals in aqueous solutions were investigated. This project serves to study strontium ferrite nanoparticles in synthesis, composition, morphology, adsorption capacity, removal efficiency and optimum parameters for copper(II) ions adsorption. The morphology and physicochemical properties of strontium ferrite nanoparticles synthesized were analyzed using SEM, EDX, TGA and FTIR. Its adsorption process is analyzed with pseudo first and second order of reaction, and intra-particle diffusion models. The main parameters investigated in this study were pH, adsorbent dosage, adsorbate contact time. The synthesis of strontium ferrite nanoparticle using sol-gel method with ethylene glycol as a gel precursor yields carboxylates that attach to the metallic network of strontium ferrite, which dissolve as salt during the adsorption in copper aqueous solutions. The most optimum pH for copper(II) ions adsorption with strontium ferrite nanoparticles ranges between 5.0 – 5.5 with an optimum dosage of 0.8 g in a 200 ml solution of 50 mg/L copper(II) ions. The adsorption isotherm and kinetic of copper(II) ions by strontium ferrite nanoparticles obey the Langmuir isotherm and second order kinetics, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity achieved in this experiment is 18.379 mg/g.