Separation Science and Technology, Vol.52, No.18, 2897-2906, 2017
Modification and magnetization of MOF (HKUST-1) for the removal of Sr2+ from aqueous solutions. Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic modeling studies
In this research, metal-organic framework MOF(HKUST-1) was synthesized, magnetized and modified by hexacyanoferrate in order to prepare an efficient adsorbent for the removal of Sr2+ from aqueous solutions. The synthesized adsorbent was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermal methods (TG-DTG[Themogravimetry- Derivative Theromogravimetry]), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The non-magnetized (MOF/KNiFC[potassium nickel hexacyanoferrate]) and magnetized (MOF/Fe3O4/KNiFC) adsorbents were then employed for the removal of Sr2+ from aqueous solutions. The adsorption capacity of 110 and 90mg.g(-1) was obtained, respectively, for MOF/KNiFC and MOF/Fe3O4/KNiFC. The adsorption process was kinetically fast and the equilibration was established within 45min. The magnetic capability of the adsorbent examined by the vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) technique indicated that the used adsorbent was capable of separating from the solution by applying an external magnetic field. The adsorbent showed good selectivity toward Sr2+ in the presence of Cs+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Ba2+. The regenerated adsorbent retained more than 90% of its initial capacity. Different isotherm models including Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin, Sips and Redlich-Peterson were employed to examine the applicability of the isotherms to the experimental data. It was concluded that the data was best fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the process was endothermic.