Fabrication and characterization of nanostructured MgO·Fe2O3 composite by mechanical milling as efficient adsorbent of heavy metals

Authors: Bououdina M., Alwqyan T.S., Khezami L., Al-Najar B., Shaikh M.N., Gill R., Modwi A., Taha K.K., Lemine O.M.

Author Affiliations: Bououdina, M., Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Bahrain; Alwqyan, T.S., Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Bahrain; Khezami, L., Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), P.O. Box 5701, Riyadh, 11432, Saudi Arabia; Al-Najar, B., Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Bahrain; Shaikh, M.N., Center of Research Excellence in Nanotechnology (CENT), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Mineral, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Gill, R., Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, 46000, Pakistan; Modwi, A., Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), P.O. Box 5701, Riyadh, 11432, Saudi Arabia; Taha, K.K., Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), P.O. Box 5701, Riyadh, 11432, Saudi Arabia, College of Applied and Industrial Sciences, University of Bahri, Khartoum, Sudan; Lemine, O.M., Department of Physics, College of Science, Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), P.O. Box 5701, Riyadh, 11432, Saudi Arabia

Publication Date: 2019

Nanocrystalline magnesium ferrite is synthesized by high-energy ball milling of α-Fe2O3 and MgO powders and annealed at 700, 800 and 900 °C temperatures. The Prolonged mechanical milling process has reduced the average crystallite size of MgFe2O4 to the nanometer range as confirmed by the X-ray diffraction analysis. Along with MgFe2O4 phases of α-Fe2O3 and metallic Fe were highlighted by the Rietveld XRD refinements. The scanning electron microscopy micrographs of as-milled MgO-Fe2O3 showed cauliflower-like nanostructure with narrower size distribution (≈75 nm). Furthermore, nitrogen adsorption BET analysis demonstrated flatter rather than cylindrical shaped pores with an average pore diameter in the range 24.7–66.3 nm and decreased surface area from 13.45 to 2.23 m2/g, as a function of annealing temperature. This is consistent with the increased crystallite size values obtained from XRD analysis. The magnetic study indicated a ferromagnetic behavior with low coercivity (68.68 Oe), remanence (0.840 emu/g) and saturation magnetization of 6.517 emu/g. The variation of magnetization as a function of temperature signified cations redistribution within the spinel phase MgFe2O4. The as-obtained nanopowders were tested for heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions where the data revealed improved ions removal by low temperature annealed nanoparticles especially for Ni+2 and Cd+2 indicating their potential for contaminants removal. © 2018

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Eshan2020-11-28T18:19:36+00:00

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Fabrication and characterization of nanostructured MgO·Fe2O3 composite by mechanical milling as efficient adsorbent of heavy metals

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