Synthesis of EDTA-modified magnetic activated carbon nanocomposite for removal of permanganate from aqueous solutions

In this study, activated carbon particles were magnetized by different amounts of maghemite in different temperatures using co-precipitation method and the resultant nanocomposite were modified with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to increase the permanganate contaminants adsorption capacity and to prevent degradation and oxidation of maghemite nanoparticles. Various properties of nanocomposite were investigated using different techniques including, vibrating sample magnetometer, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Different kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamic models of adsorption process were investigated. Comparing data with kinetic models showed that the adsorption process complies with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The study of equilibrium isotherms data at different temperatures indicated that the adsorption process is more compatible with Langmuir model. Negative values of ΔG and positive values of ΔH revealed that adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. Response surface methodology was used to determine optimal parameters of an adsorbent dose of 1 g L⁻¹, pH = 2 and initial permanganate concentration of 50 mg L⁻¹, according to which, the maximum capacity of permanganate adsorption obtained under optimal conditions was 93.86 mg g⁻¹.