Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with Thiol functionalized mesoporous Silica as a novel adsorbent for Pb2+ and Ag+ removal

Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with thiol functionalized mesoporous silica (TFMS) were prepared and used as a novel adsorbent for Pb2+ and Ag+ removal. FTIR spectra confirmed the Fe3O4 nanoparticle cores coated with mesoporous silica and indicated the presence of thiol groups on the surface. XRD analyses showed that synthesized adsorbent has a face-centered cubic magnetite phase structure. The best removal results were obtained at pH=5-7 and a stirring time of 15 minutes. The lowest amount of 3M nitric acid for stripping the target species from adsorbent was 40 mL. The data was found to fit the Langmuir model, and the respective maximum capacities of the adsorbent for Pb2+ and Ag+ ions was 1000.0 (+/- 1.5) mu g and 1111.0 (+/- 1.2) mu g of the target species per mg of the adsorbent. The developed adsorbent was successfully applied in wastewater samples.