Synthesis of novel magnesium ferrite Schiff base chitosan nanocomposite for efficient removal of pb(II) ions from aqueous media
Nada S. Al‐Kadhi, Ehab A. Abdelrahman, Fowzia S. Alamro, Reem Shah, Fawaz A. Saad, Khalil ur Rehman
Abstract
In this study, a novel MgFe 2 O 4 -Schiff base-chitosan nanocomposite was synthesized using a straightforward crosslinking method. The synthesis involved integrating MgFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles with modified chitosan through a Schiff base formed by the reaction between terephthalaldehyde and aminopyrazine. A comprehensive characterization was performed, including X-ray diffraction analysis, which verified the crystalline structure and the successful incorporation of MgFe 2 O nanoparticles into the chitosan-Schiff base matrix. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a distinct surface morphology, characterized by a rough, non-uniform alignment resulting from the strong interactions between the nanoparticles and the Schiff base-chitosan matrix. Additionally, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis verified the elemental composition of the nanocomposite, revealing distinct peaks corresponding to carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, magnesium, and iron. The nanocomposite exhibited outstanding performance as a nanoadsorbent for the efficient removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous media through electrostatic attraction and complexation mechanisms, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 290.7 mg g -1 . The adsorption process was determined to be spontaneous, endothermic, and chemically driven, aligning well with the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetics. The optimal conditions for maximum Pb(II) ions removal were determined to be a pH of 5.5, a contact time of 100 min, and a temperature of 328 K. Furthermore, the nanocomposite demonstrated excellent recyclability, retaining over 94.8% of its initial removal efficiency after five consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles. This study highlights the nanocomposite’s potential as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and highly efficient material for practical applications in water treatment, addressing the urgent need for sustainable solutions to heavy metal contamination.