A Chemometric Study of the Adsorption of Zr(IV) Ions from Aqueous Solutions onto TBP-Surface-Modified Magnetic Fe3O4 Nanoparticles as a New Adsorbent

Chemometric experimental design methods were used to optimize the adsorption of Zr(IV) ions from an aqueous solution. Tributyl phosphate functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (TBPFMNPs) were used as a novel adsorbent for the adsorption of Zr(IV) ions. The effect exerted on the adsorption process by the adsorbent amount (mg), TBP/MNP ratio (w/w, %), and concentration of Zr(IV) in aqueous solutions (mg/L) was studied. Two-level factorial design was used, with the other parameters kept constant in the batch experiments. The initial Zr concentration was varied from 3.5 to 70 ppm with 9 mg of the adsorbent. The maximum uptake, 93%, was reached at the initial zirconium concentration of 35 ppm. The maximum distribution coefficient under these conditions reached 15140 mL/g.