Recyclable nanoscale zero-valent iron-based magnetic polydopamine coated nanomaterials for the adsorption and removal of phenanthrene and anthracene

• Published in: Science and technology of advanced materials Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 3 - 16
• Main Authors: Li, Jing, Zhou, Qingxiang, Liu, Yongli, Lei, Man
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01-01-2017; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Adsorbents; Adsorption; Anthracene; Iron; Magnetic polydopamine nanoparticles; magnetic separation; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Organic and Soft Materials (Colloids, Liquid Crystals, Gel, Polymers); Phenanthrene; Pollutants; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Silicon dioxide; anthracene; magnetic separation; adsorption; Magnetic polydopamine nanoparticles; phenanthrene
• ISSN: 1468-6996; 1878-5514
• DOI: 10.1080/14686996.2016.1246941

In this study, nanoscale zero-valent iron nanoparticles (NZVIs) were coated with silica and polydopamine using a two-step process. The coated nanoparticles were applied as adsorbents for removal of two common polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollutants, phenanthrene (PHE) and anthracene (ANT) from aqueous system. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model. Isotherms and thermodynamics were investigated and the results indicated that the adsorption process fit best to the Freundlich model and exhibited the characteristics of an exothermal physical adsorption process. Owing to their superparamagnetic characteristics and stability, these adsorbents could be easily collected and recycled for reuse.