A Study on Soybean-Polyethylene Glycol/Fe3O4 Nanoparticle Composite as Heavy Metals Removal

Ong, Li Yun (2023) A Study on Soybean-Polyethylene Glycol/Fe3O4 Nanoparticle Composite as Heavy Metals Removal. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

A novel adsorbent, soybean-polyethylene glycol/Fe3O4 nanoparticle composite was successfully synthesised at optimum adsorbent composition where the amount of cellulose-based soybean waste used is five times more than polyethylene glycol and Fe3O4 nanoparticle at 30 ℃ – 35 ℃. The soybean waste is the main component in the novel nanoparticle composite that is responsible for the adsorption of Pb(II) ions from the aqueous solution. While, the polyethylene glycol and Fe3O4 nanoparticle are added to further enhance the adsorption capacity of this novel nanoparticle composite. The novel nanoparticle composite was characterised by using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Zeta Potential. The adsorption of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution by soybean-polyethylene glycol/Fe3O4 nanoparticle composite was carried out under optimum conditions including adsorbent dosage, pH, initial concentration of lead(II) nitrate solution and contact time. In the adsorption kinetic and isotherm studies, the adsorption of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution by soybean-polyethylene glycol/Fe3O4 nanoparticle composite was better fit to pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm. Negative zeta potential at all pH indicated the chemical adsorption between the positive charge Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution and the negative charge functional groups of the nanoparticle composite. The proposed cooperative chemical adsorptions contributed by the functional groups of soybean waste, polyethylene glycol and Fe3O4 nanoparticles are the electrostatic interaction, lone pair electrons interaction and dipole-dipole interaction, respectively. The adsorption mechanism was further studied by applying the intraparticle model at different initial concentrations of lead(II) nitrate solutions. Desorption study showed the novel nanoparticle composite is a cost-effective adsorbent which can be reused for at least 3 adsorption cycles.