Magnetic Graphene Oxide Modified with Sulfur for Selective Removal of Mercury from Water and Wastewater Samples followed by FI-CV-AAS

Seidi, Shahram; Azizi, Maryam

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Seidi S, Azizi M. Magnetic Graphene Oxide Modified with Sulfur for Selective Removal of Mercury from Water and Wastewater Samples followed by FI-CV-AAS. J Environ Health Eng 2025; 13 (1) :1-19
URL: http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-1099-en.html

Magnetic Graphene Oxide Modified with Sulfur for Selective Removal of Mercury from Water and Wastewater Samples followed by FI-CV-AAS

Shahram Seidi ^*

, Maryam Azizi

Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran & Nanomaterial, Separation and Trace Analysis Research Lab, Faculty of Chemistry, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: (56 Views)

Background: The swift pace of industrial development and the widespread introduction of mercury as a toxic heavy metal made the identification and removal of this pollutant, particularly from water resources, critically important. This study focuses on the development of a magnetic nanosorbent composed of graphene oxide and sulfur-containing functional groups, designed to enhance both the adsorption selectivity and removal efficiency of mercury.

Methods: S@MGO adsorbent was prepared for the removal of mercury from both water and wastewater samples. Mercury concentrations were determined using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. The adsorbent w:as char:acterized using SEM, EDX, and FT-IR. An experimental design approach was employed to optimize parameters influencing mercury removal. The study investigated adsorption isotherms, adsorption capacity, stability and reusability, the effect of interfering ions, and mercury removal efficiency in various water and wastewater samples.

Results: The optimal adsorption parameters for the prepared adsorbent were determined to be a solution pH of 6.8, an adsorption time of 29 minutes, and an adsorbent dosage of 53.0 mg. Adsorption isotherm data exhibited a strong correlation with the Langmuir model (R² = 0.9998). The adsorbent demonstrated a high adsorption capacity of 401 mg/g, closely approaching the maximum capacity predicted by the Langmuir model (476.19 mg/g). Furthermore, surface modification with sulfur groups enhanced the adsorbent’s selectivity for mercury ions in the presence of competing cations. The S@MGO adsorbent exhibited good stability and reusability, maintaining a removal efficiency exceding 90% after 10 adsorption-desorption cycles. Finally, the mercury removal efficiency in various water samples exceeded 99%, with RSDs% below 4.1%.

Conclusion: The magnetic properties of the S@MGO adsorbent facilitate its rapid collection following the removal process. Surface modification with sulfur-containing functional groups enhances its selectivity for mercury over other metal ions in aqueous solutions. The synthesized adsorbent offers several advantages, including high adsorption capacity, high removal efficiency, and a short removal time, making it a promising material for mercury remediation.

Keywords: Magnetic adsorbent, Graphene oxide, Adsorption method, Mercury, Wastewater

Full-Text [PDF 947 kb] (16 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2025/01/29 | Accepted: 2025/03/17 | Published: 2025/04/16

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