Fast and efficient removal of mercury from water samples using magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles modified with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole.

Mercury in the lowest levels of concentrations is dangerous for human health due to its bioaccumulation in body and toxicity. This investigation shows the effective removal of mercury (II) ions from contaminated surface waters by modified magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (M-MIONPs) with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole as an efficient adsorbent. The proposed method is fast, simple, cheap, effective and safe for treatment of mercury polluted waters. Preparation of adsorbent is easy and removal time is short. Non-modified magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONPs) can adsorb up to 43.47% of 50 ngmL(-1) of Hg (II) ions from polluted water, but modified magnetic ironoxide nanoparticles (M-MIONPs) improved the efficiency up to 98.6% for the same concentration. The required time for complete removal of mercury ions was 4 min. Variation of pH and high electrolyte concentration (NaCl) of the solution do not have considerable effect on the mercury removal efficiency. Loading capacity of adsorbent for Hg ions is obtained to be 590 µgg(-1).

Solid phase extraction-spectrophotometric determination of fluoride in water samples using magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

A new, sensitive, fast and simple method using magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONs), as an adsorbent has been developed for extraction, preconcentration and determination of traces of fluoride ions. The determination method is based on the discoloration of Fe(III)-SCN complex with extracted fluoride ions which was subsequently monitored spectrophotometrically at lambda(max)=458 nm. Various parameters affecting the adsorption of fluoride by the MIONs have been investigated, such as pH of the solution, type, volume and concentration of desorbing reagent, amount of adsorbent and interference effects. A linear response for the determination of fluoride was achieved in the concentration range of 0.040-1.250 microg mL(-1). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for fluoride based on 3 times and 10 times the standard deviation of the blank (3S(b), 10S(b)) were 0.015 and 0.042 microg mL(-1) (n=20) for fluoride ion, respectively. A preconcentration factor of 50 was achieved in this method. The proposed procedure has been applied for determination of fluoride concentration in various water samples. The results obtained from this method were successfully compared with those provided by standard SPADNS method.

Fast removal and recovery of amaranth by modified iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles.

The adsorption and removal of amaranth (AM) from an aqueous solution by iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) coated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as adsorbent was reported. The novel magnetic separation was quite efficient for the adsorption and desorption of AM. In an aqueous solution of AM at 25 degrees C, the adsorption data could be fitted by the Langmuir equation with a maximum adsorption amount of 1.05 mg mg(-1) and a Langmuir adsorption equilibrium constant of 0.90 Lmg(-1). The effect of temperature, pH of aqueous medium, electrolyte concentration, composition of desorbent solvent and interfering ions on the recovery process were also investigated. Methanol was used for desorption of adsorbed AM. Due to the absence of internal diffusion resistance both adsorption and desorption of AM were fast and could be completed within 5 min. The results indicated that the CTAB-coated IONPs could be employed in the removal of the anionic dye from wastewater. The AM was removed successfully in spiked samples of Karoon River water.

Modified iron oxide nanoparticles as solid phase extractor for spectrophotometeric determination and separation of basic fuchsin.

This study presents a novel separation, preconcentration and determination of basic fuchsin (BF) in an aqueous solution by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-bounded iron oxide nanoparticles (S-IONPs). It is shown that the novel magnetic nano-adsorbent is quite efficient for the adsorption and desorption of BF at 25 degrees C. Different parameters such as pH, temperature, ionic strength and composition of desorbent solvent were optimized. The effect of some co-existing ions on the determination was investigated. The nanoparticles were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the sizes of S-IONPs were in the range of 20-100 nm. The method showed good linearity for the determination of BF in the range of 10-300 ng mL(-1) with a regression coefficient of 0.9989. The limit of detection (LOD) (signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1) was 0.0073 microg L(-1) and the relative standard deviation (RSD) for 0.03 microg mL(-1) and 0.2 microg mL(-1) of BF were 4.53% and 4.73%, respectively. The BF was determined successfully in spiked samples of Karoon River water.

Solid phase extraction of lead and cadmium using solid sulfur as a new metal extractor prior to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

A new method using a mini-column packed with sulfur as a new solid phase extractor has been developed for simultaneous preconcentration of lead and cadmium in water samples prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometric determinations. The effects of various parameters such as pH, flow rate of sample and eluent, type and concentration of eluent, sample volume, amount of adsorbent and interfering ions have been studied. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 10-300 and 1-20 ng mL(-1) for lead and cadmium, respectively. The limit of detection based on three times the standard deviation of the blank (3S(b)) was 3.2 and 0.2 ng mL(-1) (n=10) for lead and cadmium, respectively. A preconcentration factor of 250 was achieved in this method. The proposed procedure was applied to the determination of metal ions in tap, river and wastewater samples.