Journal of Nanomaterials
Volume 2017 (2017), Article ID 8579598, 7 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/8579598

Research Article

Magnetic Mineral Nanocomposite Sorbents for Wastewater Treatment

Oksana Makarchuk,¹ Tetiana Dontsova,¹ Anatolii Perekos,² Alexander Skoblik,² and Yevhen Svystunov²

¹Chemical Technology Department, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Victory Avenue 37, Kyiv 03056, Ukraine
²G. V. Kurdyumov Institute for Metal Physics National Academy of Sciences of the Ukraine, Academician Vernadsky Blvd. 36, Kyiv 03680, Ukraine

Correspondence should be addressed to Oksana Makarchuk; xtfhn9207@ukr.net

Received 23 February 2017; Accepted 30 April 2017; Published 29 May 2017

Academic Editor: Vidyadhar Singh

Copyright © 2017 Oksana Makarchuk et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Magnetic nanocomposite sorbents for disposal of synthetic detergents from wastewater were synthesized. Obtained sorbents based on clay minerals (saponite, palygorskite, and spondyle clay) and magnetite were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and ballistic method with Steinberg magnetometer. As a result, the average crystallite sizes of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in magnetic nanocomposites were 2–10 nm. Magnetic nanocomposites had superparamagnetic properties and were classified as soft magnetic materials. Comparison of sorption properties showed that magnetic composite sorbents had efficiency of adsorption removal of anionic surfactants and polyphosphates from aqueous solution 2–8 times higher compared to native clay minerals. Spent magnetic nanocomposites were effectively removed from the aqueous solution by magnetic separation. So, the efficiency of magnetic composites application and implementing of magnetic separation in adsorption purification was confirmed.

1. Introduction

Currently there is a shortage, depletion, and quality deterioration of water resources as a result of their growing contamination. Synthetic surfactants (SAs) and polyphosphates have occupied special place among water pollutants. SDs are widely used in household, industry, and agriculture. Although aquatic ecosystems are capable of self-regulation and biological purification, they are unable to cope with the toxic compounds of the SDs that are extremely stable and are stored in the water for years [1, 2].

As strong carcinogenic agents SAs and their degradation products are toxic and can accumulate in the body and cause irreversible pathological changes. Furthermore, SAs slow the decay of other carcinogens and inhibit the process of biochemical oxidation and nitrification [3, 4].

Soluble phosphorus causes eutrophication of water bodies. Polyphosphates also bring a great harm to the human body; penetrating to skin capillaries they change the percentage of hemoglobin structure and density of the plasma. Besides this, polyphosphate impurities create conditions for more intensive penetration of anionic surfactant through the skin and provoke dermatological diseases [5].

Adsorption purification with a large diversity of sorption materials is a universal method for treatment of both highly concentrated and low concentrated waste water [6]. Activated carbon is the traditional and most commonly used sorbent for water treatment. However, the high cost of activated carbon calls into question the prospects of its use for the treatment of sewage [7].

Cheap clay minerals show a large sorption activity against pollutants of various nature. Mixture of layered and not layered clay minerals is recommended for disposal of wastewater contaminated by SAs [8]. Composite sorbents based clay minerals have high sorption capacity relative polyphosphates [9]. However, the high sorption activity of mineral sorbents is provided in the case of colloidal degree of their dispersion. But, in wastewater treatment, a problem of removing of spent sorbent particulate from water occurs.

The solution of this problem is providing magnetic properties for cheap natural clay minerals [10]. As a magnetic modifier magnetic iron oxides Fe₃O₄, γ-Fe₂O₃, and α- Fe₂O₃ are usually used. Magnetic support of sorption treatment of wastewater by cheap natural sorbents, which provides rapid separation of the spent sorbent from purified water in a magnetic field, is beneficial from a technological and economic standpoint [11].

The paper considers the synthesis and characterization of magnetic nanocomposite sorbents based on clay minerals and magnetite; the efficiency of the magnetic composites for wastewater treatment from the anion surfactant and polyphosphates is estimated.

2. Experimental

2.1. Synthesis of Composites

Clay minerals, saponite, palygorskite, and spondyle clay (Ukraine) were selected for the creation of the magnetic composites sorbents (MC). These materials have paramagnetic properties. It makes them suitable for creation on their basis of magnetic sorbents. For synthesis of MC, the magnetic modifier Fe₃O₄ was used in the form of magnetic fluid obtained by Elmore method [12]. Сlay minerals have affinity to multicharged cations (particularly iron ions Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺) that determined by morphological, crystal, and chemistry features of clays [13]. Therefore, magnetic composite sorbents based on magnetite in an amount of 7% wt. and saponite (MCSp-7), palygorskite (MCP-7), and spondyle clay (MCSd-7) were synthesized by simple impregnation method.

2.2. X-Ray Analysis

Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of natural clays, magnetite, and composites on their base was performed on Rigaku Ultima IV X-ray powder diffractometer with Cu Kα radiation (40 kV, 30 mA). Crystallographic Open Database (COD) was applied for phase composition definition of sorbents. The crystallite sizes and the unit cell parameters of magnetite and magnetite in magnetic composites were calculated by software package PDXL.

2.3. Mössbauer Spectroscopy

Mössbauer spectra were recorded on MS1101E spectrometer in a mode with constant acceleration employing ⁵⁷Co(Cr) source. Calibration of isomeric shift () values was carried out relative to α-Fe at room temperature.

2.4. Magnetic Characteristics

Magnetic properties of nanocomposites (specific magnetization (A·m²/kg); magnetic field strength (A/m); magnetic induction (mT)) were determined by ballistic magnetometer of Steinberg.

2.5. Adsorption Procedure

Comparative analysis of MC sorption properties and natural clays was carried by constructing of adsorption isotherms of main components of synthetic detergents removal such as anionic surfactants (sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)) and polyphosphates (tripolyphosphate (TPP) and hexametaphosphate (HMP)). Adsorption properties of magnetite were not studied since Fe₃O₄ is a not porous material.

For sorption studies, a series of 250-mL glass flasks were filled with 100 mL of model wastewater solution of different initial contaminant concentrations (50–1000 mg·L⁻¹). A fixed amount of sorbent material (1 g) was added to each flask and stirred (350 rpm) for 1 hour at thermostatic water bath shaker (°C) to ensure complete sorption equilibrium. After adsorption, spent magnetic composites MCSp-7, MCP-7, and MCSd-7 were separated by the external magnetic field, while clays adsorbents saponite, palygorskite, and spondyle clay were separated with centrifugal separation. The residual (equilibrium) concentration of anionic SAs in the sample was measured by direct two-phase (2P) titration of cationic surfactant in the layer of chloroform [14]. The equilibrium concentrations of phosphate in the solutions after adsorption treatment were determined by photometric method of molybdophosphate blue complex using UV-5800PC Spectrophotometer [15]. The equilibrium adsorption capacities () were calculated according to the following formula:

where and are initial and equilibrium concentration of pollutant in solution, respectively, mg·L⁻¹; is model solution volume, L; is mass of sorbent sample, g.

2.6. Magnetic Separation

The magnetic separation process was investigated in an aqueous medium in magnetic filter equipped with permanent magnets with an intensity of external magnetic field 66 mT and in the absence of permanent external magnetic field. The efficiency of magnetic separation was determined by the residual concentration of suspended sorbent particles in aqueous medium through 5, 30, and 60 min of magnetic separation by turbidimetric method [16].

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. XRD Analysis

Results of powder X-ray diffractions of magnetite, MC, and natural clays were recorded using a Rigaku Ultima IV diffractometer. The corresponding diffraction patterns are presented in Figure 1 (magnetite), Figure 2 (MCSp-7 and saponite), Figure 3 (MCP-7 and palygorskite), and Figure 4 (MCSd-7 and spondyle clay).

Figure 1: The XRD patterns of magnetite Fe₃O₄.

Figure 2: The XRD patterns of saponite (a) and MCSp-7 (b): A, saponite NaMg₃[AISi₃O₁₀](OH)₂⋅4H₂O; В, montmorillonite NaMgAlSiO₂(OH)⋅H₂O; С, quartz SiO₂; D, calcite СаСО₃; M, magnetite Fe₃O₄.

From the XRD pattern of Fe₃O₄ (Figure 1), the strong characteristic peaks of Fe₃O₄ were detected at 2θ () = 30.72° (220), 35.58° (311), 43,72° (400), 53.64° (422), 57.24° (511), and 62.86° (440) (card number 01-071-6336). The XRD results do not show the presence of impurities or of other phases. So, the method of Elmore provides obtaining the pure magnetic modifying agent.

The XRD pattern of the native saponite (Figure 2(a)) indicated peaks that correspond to saponite (card number 00-013-0305), montmorillonite (card number 00-002-0014), quartz (card number 00-001-0649), and calcite (card number 00-002-0623). The X-ray diffraction pattern of composite sorbent MCSp-7 (Figure 2(b)) showed well-developed diffraction lines assigned to inherent phases of native saponite clay, with all major peaks matching the standard pattern of Fe₃O₄ (card number 01-071-6336).

Broad diffraction peaks attributed to peaks of pure palygorskite (card number 01-082-1872) and quartz (card number 00-001-0649) were demonstrated on the XRD pattern of palygorskite (Figure 3(a)). The characteristic diffraction peaks of sets of these two main phases were observed in diffraction pattern of magnetic composite MCP-7 (Figure 3(b)). The position of the rest diffraction peaks of MCP-7 diffraction pattern was well matched with data from the COD card for Fe₃O₄.

Figure 3: The XRD patterns of palygorskite (a) and MCP-7 (b): E, palygorskite (Mg0.669, AI0.331)₄(Si₄O₁₀)₂(OH)₂⋅8H₂O; С, quartz SiO₂; M, magnetite Fe₃O₄.

Figure 4: The XRD patterns of spondyle clay (a) and MCSd-7 (b): F, augite Ca(Mg, Fe, Al)[(Si, Al)₂O₆]; G, pigeonite (Ca, Mg, Fe)(Mg, Fe)Si₂O₆; С, quartz SiO₂; M, magnetite Fe₃O₄.

According to the X-ray diffraction analysis presented in Figure 4, а spondyle clay consists of two minerals such as augite (card number 01-088-0831) and pigeonite (card number 01-087-0693). Phase composition of sample MCSd-7 differs from native spondyle clays by the presence of magnetite peaks (card number 01-071-6336).

Thus, the synthesis of composite magnetic sorbents impregnation method did not lead to changes in the phase composition of clay minerals.

The XRD patterns of MC and magnetite were automatically analyzed by software package PDXL. The crystallite sizes and the unit cell parameters of magnetite and magnetite in magnetic composites were calculated and reported in Table 1.

Table 1: X-ray analysis of magnetic sorbents on the base of saponite, palygorskite, spondyle clay, and magnetite.

Sample
Average size of
Fe₃O₄ crystallites, nm
Cell parameters, nm

а
b
c

MCSp-7
9.6
0.833
0.833
0.833

MCP-7
2.5
0.844
0.844
0.844

MCSd-7
9.2
0.831
0.831
0.831

Fe₃O₄
17.9
0.835
0.835
0.835

As stated in Table 1 magnetite in composite sorbents were obtained in the nanorange. The average crystallite size of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was 2–10 nm. So, magnetic nanocomposites are received, where nanosized magnetic modifier stabilized in the clay mineral matrix.

3.2. Mössbauer Spectroscopy

Mössbauer spectrums of native saponite clay (Figure 5(a)) and magnetic composite based on its MCSp-7 (Figure 5(b)) were similar to each other. Both spectrums were characterized by the presence of doublets with parameters corresponding to bivalent Fe²⁺ and trivalent Fe³⁺ iron ions. Spectrum of saponite included the sextet of low intensity, which showed the presence of magnetite in the composition of native natural clay in small quantities. Sextet of great intensity that according to work [17] corresponds to Fe₃O₄ particles with sizes less than 10 nm [17] was found in the spectrum of MCSp-7.

Figure 5: Mössbauer spectra for the pure saponite (a), palygorskite (c), and spondyle clay (e) and magnetic composites MCSp-7 (b), MCP-7 (d), and MCSd-7 (f).

In the Mössbauer spectrums of MCP-7 (Figure 5(d)) and MCSd-7 (Figure 5(f)) the superposition of two components such as poorly intensive extended sextet that according to work [17] corresponds to Fe₃O₄ particles with dimensions less than 10 nm and doublet that meets parameters of trivalent iron ions Fe³⁺ occurred. Parameters of doublet shown in Figure 5(d) coincided with doublet of iron ions Fe³⁺ of the native palygorskite (Figure 5(c)). As shown in Figure 5(e) in the initial state for spondyle clay the existence of two doublets was discovered. In addition to intense doublet parameters which well coincided with doublets for iron ions Fe³⁺ of MCSd-7 (Figure 5(f)) the doublet of weak intensity with parameters corresponding to bivalent iron ions Fe²⁺ was detected.

Thus, Mössbauer spectrums of all MC samples except sextets were characterized by presence of doublets. This confirms that the magnetic modifier particles of magnetic composite sorbents are in nanoscale range (less than 10 nm) and have superparamagnetic properties [17]. Thereby, the magnetic properties of nanosized magnetite stabilized by mineral matrix are primarily determined by the size of its particles.

3.3. Characteristics of the Magnetic Properties

The specific saturation magnetization, magnetic field strength, and magnetic induction of saponite, palygorskite, spondyle clay, Fe₃O₄, and synthesized MC samples are summarized in Table 2. Natural clays were characterized by specific saturation zero magnetization; therefore these minerals were classified as paramagnetic materials. When paramagnetic mineral matrix of composite enters to the magnetic separator, it is magnetized in the direction of the external magnetic field. Therefore, controllability of magnetic separation process is determined by the properties of ferromagnetic particles of modifier.

Table 2: Magnetic characteristics of sorbent samples.

Sample
, А⋅m²/kg
, A/m
, mT

Saponite
0
0
0

MCSp-7
4.5
954.9
0.16

Palygorskite
0
0
0

MCP-7
3.9
954.9
0.10

Spondyle clay
0
0
0

MCSd-7
6.3
1909.9
0.20

Fe₃O₄
90.0
501.3
3.50

In the synthesis of MCSp-7, MCP-7, and MCSd-7 in the clay matrix, the Fe₃O₄ crystallites were formed about the same size of 2–10 nm (Table 1); based on this, the specific saturation magnetization of MC samples was approximately the same. Hence, the nanoscale magnetite particles of composite sorbents were formed with the low residual magnetization; therefore MC are classified as soft magnetic materials.

According to the results presented in Table 2, the values of magnetic field strength and magnetic induction are growing with the increasing of size of Fe₃O₄ crystallites. However, for nanosized magnetite with size of crystallites 17.9 nm, the value was found relatively low. This regularity is typical for nanoscale particles of magnetic oxides. The maximum value is characteristic for magnetite nanoparticles with size of about 30 nanometers. Since the magnetite change of reversal mechanism from reorientation of magnetic moments (single-domain state) to displacement of domain walls (polydomain state) for magnetite particles occurred at about 30 nm [18], consequently, for single-domain nanoparticles of Fe₃O₄ less than 30 nm is inherent in the increase of magnetic field strength with increasing in size. For magnetite nanoparticles larger than 30 nm the descending dependency of versus particle size was discovered. Thereby, nanoscale particles of magnetic modifier in the composition of magnetic sorbents were characterized by superparamagnetic properties.

3.4. Adsorption Experiment

The maximum sorption capacity of МСSp-7, MCSd-7, and MCP-7 in relation to the anionic SAs was in the range of 35–47 mg SDBS/g and 30–36 mg SLS/g (Figures 6(a) and 6(b)). The sorption capacities of native saponite, spondyle clay, and palygorskite for SDBS and SLS obtained from the sorption isotherms were 2–4 and 2–8 times lower. As we can see from Figures 6(c) and 6(d), the maximum sorption capacities of magnetic composites towards TPP and HMP were 3 and 4 times higher, respectively, compared to the native clay minerals and amounted to 550–570 mg TPP/g and 790–810 mg HMP/g.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 6: Adsorption isotherm of SDBS (a), SLS (b), TPP (c), and HMP (d) on sorbents samples.

Thus, modification of clay minerals using nanoscale magnetite in an amount of 7 wt.% has enhanced adsorption capacity of natural clays. In our view, it was related to change of porous structure of natural clay minerals caused by the formation of micropores and mesopores sorbent structure and stabilization of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on their pores surface. The comparative analysis of porous structures saponite clays and magnetic composites based on it are given in the work [13].

3.5. Magnetic Separation Process

Table 3 shows the kinetic of separation of clay minerals and magnetic composites in external magnetic field 66 mT and in absence of permanent external magnetic field. Separation of magnetic sorbents from the purified solution in a filter equipped with permanent magnets was held 36 times faster. 98% of spent magnetic sorbent mass was precipitated for the first 5 minutes by magnetic separation. Application of magnetic composites has ensured the achievement of the residual concentration of suspended solids ≤0.02 mg/L for 30 minutes of magnetic separation.

Table 3: Characteristics of the magnetic separation process of spent sorbents.

Sample
66 mT
0 mT

, mg/dm³

5 min
30 min
60 min
5 min
30 min
60 min

Saponite
558.8
387.7
327.1
555.7
384.2
326.0

MCSp-7
32.7
1.0
<0.5
501.0
236.6
150.4

Palygorskite
662.7
418.2
351.6
664.8
421.3
355.3

MCP-7
26.6
<0.5
<0.5
506.6
245.4
148.2

Spondyle clay
713.8
526.0
464.9
712.4
523.7
466.5

MCSd-7
14.9
5.4
<0.5
491.0
249.9
179.3

The residual concentration of magnetic composites was 2.5 times less than native clay sorbents at the separation in the absence of a magnetic field (0 mT). Therefore, magnetic composites are ferromagnetic materials for which macroscopic magnetic moment, which exists even without external magnetic field, is available. As follows, efficiency of application of magnetic composites and implementing of magnetic separation in adsorption purification is obvious.

4. Conclusions

Magnetic nanocomposite sorbents on mineral base (saponite, palygorskite, and spondyle clay) were synthesized by impregnation method. The pure magnetic modifying agent Fe₃O₄ was obtained by method of Elmore.

The magnetic properties of nanosized magnetite stabilized by mineral matrix are primarily determined by the size of its particles. In the synthesis of MCSp-7, MCP-7, and MCSd-7 in the clay matrix the magnetite crystallites were formed approximately in the same range (2–10 nm). Magnetite particles in magnetic composites were in single-domain state and characterized by specific superparamagnetic properties. MC were classified to the soft magnetic materials.

The sorption capacities of obtained magnetic composites towards anionic surfactants and polyphosphates exceeded the sorption capacity of clay minerals by 2–8 times. The detected effect was caused by stabilization of magnetite nanoparticles on the surface of clay pores and by the formation of micropores and mesopores sorbent structure.

Spent magnetic sorbents were removed from purified water by magnetic separation 36 times faster compared to the native clays. Thus, the use of magnetic nanocomposites based on natural clays and magnetite for the removal of organic pollutants is technologically and economically advantageous solution in water purification.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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