A comparative analysis of the removal of arsenic from water using magnetite/polyaniline-polypyrrole nanocomposite

Arsenic contamination in groundwater, particularly in developing countries like Pakistan, poses significant health risks, including developmental abnormalities, cardiovascular ailments, and cancer. It also affects aquatic biodiversity, agricultural production, and soil quality, endangering ecosystems and posing a global concern. Various methods like ion exchange, membrane filtration, precipitation, photocatalytic degradation, and adsorption have been explored for arsenic removal, with adsorption proving to be the most effective. This research not only introduces a novel material for water purification but also provides a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional treatment methods. A magnetite/polyaniline-polypyrrole nanocomposite with improved adsorption effectiveness has been created to address the challenge of arsenic removal. By combining inorganic iron oxide with organic conducting polymers, oxidative polymerization of polypyrrole and aniline was achieved in the presence of magnetite (Fe3O4). Magnetite is used to facilitate separation from treated water, which lowers the production of secondary waste and increases treatment efficiency overall. The nanocomposite was characterized using FTIR, SEM, XRD, TGA, DSC, Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible, and BET techniques. The colorimetric method confirmed arsenic removal, with further spectrophotometric analysis showing a 92% reduction of arsenic from an aqueous solution using just 0.01 g of the adsorbent at pH 1. The magnetite/polyaniline-polypyrrole nanocomposite offers an effective solution for arsenic removal, warranting further research and optimization for practical applications in arsenic-contaminated regions. This study supports Clean Water and Sanitation that seek to guarantee to access clean and sanitary water for drinking. The results of this study can be used to large-scale water treatment projects, which will help communities whose water supplies are tainted by arsenic.