Synthesis of Fe₃O₄@mZrO₂-Re (Re = Y/La/Ce) by Using Uniform Design, Surface Response Methodology, and Orthogonal Design & Its Application for As³⁺ and As⁵⁺ Removal

• Main Authors: Easar Alam, Qiyan Feng, Hong Yang, Jiaxi Fan, Sameena Mumtaz, Farida Begum
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
• Series: Nanomaterials
• Subjects: magnetic Fe₃O₄; uniform design; surface response methodology; multi-staged doping; arsenic (III & V) removal
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/9/2177
• ISSN: 2079-4991

In this study, iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) was coated with ZrO₂, and doped with three rare earth elements((Y/La/Ce), and a multi-staged rare earth doped zirconia adsorbent was prepared by using uniform design U₁₄, Response Surface methodology, and orthogonal design, to remove As³⁺ and As⁵⁺ from the aqueous solution. Based on the results of TEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, and N₂-adsorption desorption test, the best molar ratio of Fe₃O₄:TMAOH:Zirconium butoxide:Y:La:Ce was selected as 1:12:11:1:0.02:0.08. The specific surface area and porosity was 263 m²/g, and 0.156 cm³/g, respectively. The isothermal curves and fitting equation parameters show that Langmuir model, and Redlich Peterson model fitted well. As per calculations of the Langmuir model, the highest adsorption capacities for As³⁺ and As⁵⁺ ions were recorded as 68.33 mg/g, 84.23 mg/g, respectively. The fitting curves and equations of the kinetic models favors the quasi second order kinetic model. Material regeneration was very effective, and even in the last cycle the regeneration capacities of both As³⁺ and As⁵⁺ were 75.15%, and 77.59%, respectively. Adsorption and regeneration results suggest that adsorbent has easy synthesis method, and reusable, so it can be used as a potential adsorbent for the removal of arsenic from aqueous solution.