Removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous systems using thiol-functionalized cobalt-ferrite magnetic nanoparticles

We have investigated the removal of Pb²⁺ ions from water using thiol-functionalized, cobalt-ferrite, magnetic nanoparticles. These magnetic nanoparticles were prepared using the co-precipitation method and their surfaces were modified with tetraethoxy silane and 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane in order to provide a sufficient surface concentration of the thiol (–SH) functional groups. The adsorption of the Pb²⁺ ions from the aqueous solutions onto the thiol-functionalized, cobalt-ferrite, magnetic nanoparticles was studied. The investigated parameters include the pH value of the model water, the concentration of the adsorbent, the contact time and the temperature of adsorption. The removal of the Pb²⁺ was found to be greater at the higher pH values and increasing the temperature was also found to increase the removal of Pb²⁺ ions.