New Nano-Adsorbents for the Removal of Chromium (III) and Mercury (II) from Aqueous Solutions

Polyvinyl alcohol/ glycerin- magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (PVAGLPs) have been synthesized successfully by hydrothermal method. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR). The adsorbed activities of the polyvinyl alcohol/ glycerin- magnetic iron oxide nano particles (PVAGLPs) were carried out varying parameters for adsorption Cr (III) and Hg (II) ions. Adsorption experiments were carried out varying parameters such as initial metal ion concentration (10-100 ml/g), pH (1-9), contact time (10-120 min) and weight of adsorbents (0.1-0.6 g). The increase in metal uptake with increase in dose of adsorbent from 0.1 – 0.6g was due to the increase in surface area and number of active sites for the adsorption. Shows that the adsorbent of metal ions increased from 65 to 92% and 54 to 82% for Hg (II) and Cr (III) respectively. Optimum conditions for the removal of Cr (III) and Hg (II) with PVAGLPs are: 0.4 g of adsorbent, concentration 50 ppm, at 25°C and at pH 5.0 for Cr (III) and 4.0 for Hg (II).