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Producing Magnetic Nanocomposites from Paper Sludge for the Adsorptive Removal of Pharmaceuticals from Water—A Fractional Factorial Design

Authors :
Luciana S. Rocha
Érika M. L. Sousa
María V. Gil
João A. B. P. Oliveira
Marta Otero
Valdemar I. Esteves
Vânia Calisto
Source :
Nanomaterials, Vol 11, Iss 2, p 287 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2021.

Abstract

In view of a simple after-use separation, the potentiality of producing magnetic activated carbon (MAC) by intercalation of ferromagnetic metal oxide nanoparticles in the framework of a powder activated carbon (PAC) produced from primary paper sludge was explored in this work. The synthesis conditions to produce cost effective and efficient MACs for the adsorptive removal of pharmaceuticals (amoxicillin, carbamazepine, and diclofenac) from aqueous media were evaluated. For this purpose, a fractional factorial design (FFD) was applied to assess the effect of the most significant variables (Fe3+ to Fe2+ salts ratio, PAC to iron salts ratio, temperature, and pH), on the following responses concerning the resulting MACs: Specific surface area (SBET), saturation magnetization (Ms), and adsorption percentage of amoxicillin, carbamazepine, and diclofenac. The statistical analysis revealed that the PAC to iron salts mass ratio was the main factor affecting the considered responses. A quadratic linear regression model A = f(SBET, Ms) was adjusted to the FFD data, allowing to differentiate four of the eighteen MACs produced. These MACs were distinguished by being easily recovered from aqueous phase using a permanent magnet (Ms of 22–27 emu g−1), and their high SBET (741–795 m2 g−1) were responsible for individual adsorption percentages ranging between 61% and 84% using small MAC doses (35 mg L−1).

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20794991
Volume :
11
Issue :
2
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Nanomaterials
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.4ab96222373d4f6baea0d473b6c0414d
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11020287