Separation of Ni (II) Ions using Maghemite Nanoparticle Enriched with Pistachio Nut Shell Activated Carbon.

In this research, the applicability of maghemite (γ-Fe₃O₄) nanoparticle enriched with pistachio nut shell activated carbon (PCNS-AC) for the separation of Ni (II) ions from aqueous solution was investigated. The γ- Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized using a sol-gel method. The γ-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles of the adsorbent were characterized by surface area Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and the zero point charge (pHZPC). The adsorption isotherm data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich- Peterson, and Koble-Corrigan models. The best fit for the equilibrium process was the Koble-Corrigan model. The kinetic studies indicate that the adsorption follows the pseudo-second-order kinetics. The rate of adsorption improves with increasing temperature, and the process is endothermic with ΔH value of 196.87 kJ mol^-1. The activation energy of the adsorbent was calculated to be 519.62 kJ mol^-1. The results also reveal that γ-Fe₃O₄-PCNS-AC from agriculture biomass can be an attractive option for metal removal from industrial effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]