Removal of Cadmium from Aqueous Solution Using Composite Nanostructure Natural Zircon and Magnetite Particles (Fe3O4@ZrO2) as an Adsorbent

Abstract

The potential of zircon minerals in Indonesia as valuable adsorbent materials has not been properly developed. Seeing its high potential as an excellent adsorbent for anions/cations in water treatment and industrial wastewater, the raw zircon minerals into zircon oxides which will later be composited with magnetic nanoparticles using one-pot solvothermal processes (Fe3O4@ZrO2). Cadmium is one of the most substances heavy metals toxic at lower concentrations. It is used in many industries, including textiles, paint, and dyes. In drinking water and industrial wastewater, the permissible concentration has been set the concentration level at 0.003 mg/L by the World Health Organization.The adsorbent characterizations of SEM and XRF analysis showed that the Fe3O4@ZrO2 had many different chemical composition and a possibility of high specific surface area due to the nanosize particle for adsorption processes. The Fe3O4@ZrO2 showed high adsorption uptake capacity and selectivity for the cadmium in the aqueous solution. The highest cadmium adsorption capacity was achieved (24.85 mg/g) at pH 6 using the Fe3O4@ZrO2 as adsorbent. The removal efficiency of the Fe3O4@ZrO2 for Cd remains almost 80% after three cycles. Therefore, the Fe3O4@ZrO2 has the potential to be used as an adsorbent in water and wastewater treatment.