Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Efficient removal of cadmium using magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotube nanoadsorbents: equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic study

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Nanoparticle Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Adsorptive potential of maghemite decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for the removal of cadmium ions from aqueous solution was investigated. The magnetic nanoadsorbent was synthesized using a versatile and cost effective chemical route. Structural, magnetic and surface charge properties of the adsorbent were characterized using FTIR, XRD, TEM, VSM analysis and pHPZC determination. Batch adsorption experiments were performed under varied system parameters such as pH, contact time, initial cadmium concentration and temperature. Highest cadmium adsorption was obtained at pH 8.0 and contact time of 30 min. Adsorption behavior was kinetically studied using pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order, and Weber–Morris intra particle diffusion models among which data were mostly correlated to pseudo second-order model. Adsorbate-adsorbent interactions as a function of temperature was assessed by Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich (D-R) and Temkin isotherm models from which Freundlich model had the highest consistency with the data. The adsorption capacity increased with increasing temperature and maximum Langmuir’s adsorption capacity was found to be 78.81 mg g−1 at 298 K. Thermodynamic parameters and activation energy value suggest that the process of cadmium removal was spontaneous and physical in nature, which lead to fast kinetics and high regeneration capability of the nanoadsorbent. Results of this work are of great significance for environmental applications of magnetic MWCNTs as promising adsorbent for heavy metals removal from aqueous solutions.

Graphical Abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbas A, Al-Amer AM, Laoui T, Al-Marri MJ, Nasser MS, Khraisheh M, Atieh MA (2016) Heavy metal removal from aqueous solution by advanced carbon nanotubes: critical review of adsorption applications. Sep Purif Technol 157:141–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ali I, Gupta V (2006) Advances in water treatment by adsorption technology. Nat Protoc 1:2661–2667

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Khaldi FA et al (2015) Adsorptive removal of cadmium (II) ions from liquid phase using acid modified carbon-based adsorbents. J Mol Liq 204:255–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amin NK (2009) Removal of direct blue-106 dye from aqueous solution using new activated carbons developed from pomegranate peel: adsorption equilibrium and kinetics. J Hazard Mater 165:52–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrade-Espinosa G, Muñoz-Sandoval E, Terrones M, Endo M, Terrones H, Rangel-Mendez JR (2009) Acid modified bamboo-type carbon nanotubes and cup-stacked-type carbon nanofibres as adsorbent materials: cadmium removal from aqueous solution. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 84:519–524

  • Avilés F, Cauich-Rodríguez J, Moo-Tah L, May-Pat A, Vargas-Coronado R (2009) Evaluation of mild acid oxidation treatments for MWCNT functionalization. Carbon 47:2970–2975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bai L et al (2015) Surface modification of UF membranes with functionalized MWCNTs to control membrane fouling by NOM fractions. J Membr Sci 492:400–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baldi G, Bonacchi D, Innocenti C, Lorenzi G, Sangregorio C (2007) Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles: the control of the particle size and surface state and their effects on magnetic properties. J Magn Magn Mater 311:10–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barakat M (2011) New trends in removing heavy metals from industrial wastewater. Arab J Chem 4:361–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bayazit ŞS, Kerkez Ö (2014) Hexavalent chromium adsorption on superparamagnetic multi-wall carbon nanotubes and activated carbon composites. Chem Eng Res Des 92:2725–2733

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boparai HK, Joseph M, O’Carroll DM (2011) Kinetics and thermodynamics of cadmium ion removal by adsorption onto nano zerovalent iron particles. J Hazard Mater 186:458–465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen C, Hu J, Shao D, Li J, Wang X (2009) Adsorption behavior of multiwall carbon nanotube/iron oxide magnetic composites for Ni (II) and Sr (II). J Hazard Mater 164:923–928

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cho HH, Wepasnick K, Smith BA, Bangash FK, Fairbrother DH, Ball WP (2009) Sorption of aqueous Zn[II] and Cd[II] by multiwall carbon nanotubes: the relative roles of oxygen-containing functional groups and graphenic carbon. Langmuir 26:967–981

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Correa-Duarte MA et al (2005) Alignment of carbon nanotubes under low magnetic fields through attachment of magnetic nanoparticles. J Phys Chem B 109:19060–19063

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Da̧browski A, Hubicki Z, Podkościelny P, Robens E (2004) Selective removal of the heavy metal ions from waters and industrial wastewaters by ion-exchange method. Chemosphere 56:91–106

  • Dubinin M, Radushkevich L (1947) Equation of the characteristic curve of activated charcoal. Chem Central J 1:875–884

    Google Scholar 

  • Foo K, Hameed B (2010) Insights into the modeling of adsorption isotherm systems. Chem Eng J 156:2–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freundlich H (1906) Over the adsorption in solution. J Phys Chem 57:385–470

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu F, Wang Q (2011) Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewaters: a review. J Environ Manage 92:407–418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Z, Bandosz TJ, Zhao Z, Han M, Liang C, Qiu J (2008) Investigation of the role of surface chemistry and accessibility of cadmium adsorption sites on open-surface carbonaceous materials. Langmuir 24:11701–11710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gautam RK, Gautam PK, Banerjee S, Soni S, Singh SK, Chattopadhyaya MC (2015a) Removal of Ni (II) by magnetic nanoparticles. J Mol Liq 204:60–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gautam RK, Rawat V, Banerjee S, Sanroman MA, Soni S, Singh SK, Chattopadhyaya MC (2015b) Synthesis of bimetallic Fe–Zn nanoparticles and its application towards adsorptive removal of carcinogenic dye malachite green and Congo red in water. J Mol Liq 212:227–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Girods P, Dufour A, Fierro V, Rogaume Y, Rogaume C, Zoulalian A, Celzard A (2009) Activated carbons prepared from wood particleboard wastes: characterisation and phenol adsorption capacities. J Hazard Mater 166:491–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Godt J, Scheidig F, Grosse-Siestrup C, Esche V, Brandenburg P, Reich A, Groneberg DA (2006) The toxicity of cadmium and resulting hazards for human health. J Occup Med Toxicol 1:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta VK, Sharma S (2002) Removal of cadmium and zinc from aqueous solutions using red mud. Environ Sci Technol 36:3612–3617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho YS (1995) Absorption of heavy metals from waste streams by peat

  • Horsfall Jnr M, Spiff AI (2005) Effects of temperature on the sorption of Pb2+ and Cd2+ from aqueous solution by Caladium bicolor (Wild Cocoyam) biomass. Electron J Biotechnol 8:43–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsieh SH, Horng JJ (2007) Adsorption behavior of heavy metal ions by carbon nanotubes grown on microsized Al2O3 particles. Int J Miner Metall Mater 14:77–84

  • Hu XJ et al (2014) Effects of background electrolytes and ionic strength on enrichment of Cd(II) ions with magnetic graphene oxide- supported sulfanilic acid. J Colloid Interface Sci 435:138–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang ZN, Wang XL, Yang DS (2015) Adsorption of Cr(VI) in wastewater using magnetic multi-wall carbon nanotubes. Water Sci Eng 8:226–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huat BB, Gue SS, Ali FH (2004) Tropical residual soils engineering. CRC Press

  • Hutton M (1983) Sources of cadmium in the environment. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 7:9–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kannan N, Sundaram MM (2001) Kinetics and mechanism of removal of methylene blue by adsorption on various carbons- a comparative study. Dye pigment 51:25–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan AA, Singh R (1987) Adsorption thermodynamics of carbofuran on Sn (IV) arsenosilicate in H+, Na+ and Ca2+ forms. Colloid Surf 24:33–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Köhler SJ, Cubillas P, Rodríguez-Blanco JD, Bauer C, Prieto M (2007) Removal of cadmium from wastewaters by aragonite shells and the influence of other divalent cations. Environ Sci Technol 41:112–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lagergren S (1898) About the theory of so-called adsorption of soluble substances. K Sven Vetenskapsakad Handl 24:1–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Langmuir I (1916) The constitution and fundamental properties of solids and liquids. part I. Solids J Am Chem Soc 38:2221–2295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee KP, Arnot TC, Mattia D (2011) A review of reverse osmosis membrane materials for desalination—development to date and future potential. J Membr Sci 370:1–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li YH, Wang S, Luan Z, Ding J, Xu C, Wu D (2003) Adsorption of cadmium (II) from aqueous solution by surface oxidized carbon nanotubes. Carbon 41:1057–1062

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang P, Liu Y, Guo L, Zeng J, Lu H (2004) Multiwalled carbon nanotubes as solid-phase extraction adsorbent for the preconcentration of trace metal ions and their determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. J Anal At Spectrom 19:1489–1492

  • Liang J et al (2015) Facile synthesis of alumina-decorated multi-walled carbon nanotubes for simultaneous adsorption of cadmium ion and trichloroethylene. Chem Eng J 273:101–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Wang M, Zhang S, Pan B (2013) Application potential of carbon nanotubes in water treatment: a review. J Environ Sci 25:1263–1280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu S, Chen L, Dong Y, Chen Y (2011) Adsorption of Eu(III) on iron oxide/multiwalled carbon nanotube magnetic composites. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 288:587–593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas IT, Durand-Vidal S, Dubois E, Chevalet J, Turq P (2007) Surface charge density of maghemite nanoparticles: role of electrostatics in the proton exchange. J Phys Chem C 111:18568–18576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo C, Wei R, Guo D, Zhang S, Yan S (2013) Adsorption behavior of MnO2 functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the removal of cadmium from aqueous solutions. Chem Eng J 225:406–415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathialagan T, Viraraghavan T (2002) Adsorption of cadmium from aqueous solutions by perlite. J Hazard Mater 94:291–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Misra DN (1969) Adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces: a dubinin-radushkevich equation. Surf Sci 18:367–372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morales-Torres S, Silva TL, Pastrana-Martínez LM, Brandão AT, Figueiredo JL, Silva AM (2014) Modification of the surface chemistry of single-and multi-walled carbon nanotubes by HNO3 and H2SO4 hydrothermal oxidation for application in direct contact membrane distillation. PCCP 16:12237–12250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelke KH et al (2015) Occurrence and exposure to lead and cadmium and their environmental influence on eyesight. Polish J Environ Study 24:1491–1496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Organization WH (2004) Guidelines for drinking-water quality: recommendations vol 1. World Health Organization

  • Pashai Gatabi M, Milani Moghaddam H, Ghorbani M (2016) Point of zero charge of maghemite decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes fabricated by chemical precipitation method. J Mol Liq 216:117–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Marín A, Zapata VM, Ortuno J, Aguilar M, Sáez J, Lloréns M (2007) Removal of cadmium from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto orange waste. J Hazard Mater 139:122–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Purkayastha D, Mishra U, Biswas S (2014) A comprehensive review on Cd (II) removal from aqueous solution. J Water Process Eng 2:105–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qu X, Alvarez PJ, Li Q (2013) Applications of nanotechnology in water and wastewater treatment. Water Res 47:3931–3946

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao MM, Ramesh A, Rao GPC, Seshaiah K (2006) Removal of copper and cadmium from the aqueous solutions by activated carbon derived from Ceiba pentandra hulls. J Hazard Mater 129:123–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren X, Chen C, Nagatsu M, Wang X (2011) Carbon nanotubes as adsorbents in environmental pollution management: a review. Chem Eng J 170:395–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saeed A, Iqbal M, Höll WH (2009) Kinetics, equilibrium and mechanism of Cd2+ removal from aqueous solution by mungbean husk. J Hazard Mater 168:1467–1475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar B (2002) Heavy metals in the environment. CRC Press

  • Sasaki T et al (2013) Effective removal of cadmium from fish sauce using tannin. J Agric Food Chem 61:1184–1188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shih YH, Li MS (2008) Adsorption of selected volatile organic vapors on multiwall carbon nanotubes. J Hazard Mater 154:21–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stobinski L, Lesiak B, Kövér L, Tóth J, Biniak S, Trykowski G, Judek J (2010) Multiwall carbon nanotubes purification and oxidation by nitric acid studied by the FTIR and electron spectroscopy methods. J Alloys Compd 501:77–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Temkin M, Pyzhev V (1940) Kinetics of ammonia synthesis on promoted iron catalysts. Acta Physiochim URSS 12:217–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Vuković GD, Marinković AD, Čolić M, Ristić MĐ, Aleksić R, Perić-Grujić AA, Uskoković PS (2010) Removal of cadmium from aqueous solutions by oxidized and ethylenediamine-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Chem Eng J 157:238–248

  • Wang Q, Li J, Chen C, Ren X, Hu J, Wang X (2011) Removal of cobalt from aqueous solution by magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotube/iron oxide composites. Chem Eng J 174:126–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber WJ, Morris JC (1963) Kinetics of adsorption on carbon from solution. J Sanitary Eng Divis 89:31–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie M et al (2015) Synthesis and adsorption behavior of magnetic microspheres based on chitosan/organic rectorite for low-concentration heavy metal removal. J Alloys Compd 647:892–905

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yost K (1984) Cadmium, the environment and human health: an overview. Cell Mol Lif Sci 40:157–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng Y, Hao R, Xing B, Hou Y, Xu Z (2010) One-pot synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoprisms with controlled electrochemical properties. Chem Commun 46:3920–3922

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Du N, Wu P, Chen B, Yang D (2008) Functionalization of carbon nanotubes with magnetic nanoparticles: general nonaqueous synthesis and magnetic properties. Nanotechnology 19:315604–315610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zong P, Gou J (2014) Rapid and economical synthesis of magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotube/iron oxide composite and its application in preconcentration of U (VI). J Mol Liq 195:92–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soid State Physics Department, University of Mazandaran, P.O. Box: 47416-95447, Babolsar, Iran

    Maliheh Pashai Gatabi & Hossain Milani Moghaddam

  2. Chemical Engineering Department, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, P.O. Box 484, Babol, Iran

    Mohsen Ghorbani

Authors
  1. Maliheh Pashai Gatabi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hossain Milani Moghaddam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mohsen Ghorbani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hossain Milani Moghaddam.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pashai Gatabi, M., Milani Moghaddam, H. & Ghorbani, M. Efficient removal of cadmium using magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotube nanoadsorbents: equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic study. J Nanopart Res 18, 189 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-016-3487-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-016-3487-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation