Topic of Research Seminar: Highly Efficient Removal of Phosphate from Aqueous Solution by Bio-Nanocomposite-Based Materials
Abstract: The low phosphate content in surface water is considered a pollutant that promotes algae reproduction and leads to eutrophication. In this study, bimetallic Fe/La nanoparticles doped onto pomegranate fiber (Fe/La Peel) were fabricated using the solvothermal synthesis method and applied as a biosorbent for phosphate removal. Fe-La/Peel exhibited an irregular and rough surface with a specific surface area of 93.18 m²/g, and its surface was uniformly covered with Fe and La, providing potential adsorption sites for phosphate uptake. At pH 2.91, the highest adsorption capacities of Fe/Peel, La/Peel, and Fe-La/Peel were 13.91 mg/g, 38.86 mg/g, and 44.5 mg/g, respectively. In batch adsorption experiments, the maximum adsorption capacities of Fe-La/Peel, as fitted by the Langmuir and Sips isotherms, were 75.09 mg/g and 78.99 mg/g at 323 K, respectively. The adsorption performance of Fe/La Peel was superior to that of La/Peel and Fe/Peel at the same pH levels. Phosphate capture by the Fe-La/Peel bio-nanocomposite followed a homogeneous adsorption process, with increased capacity at higher temperatures. At neutral pH, phosphate uptake by Fe-La/Peel remained highly efficient, and metal leaching was almost negligible. The preferential phosphate adsorption by Fe-La/Peel can also be achieved in the same magnitudes of coexisting anions (Cl-, NO3-, HCO3-). And the adsorption capacity was reduced to less than 20 % in the presence of electrolytes. These results showed that Fe-La/Peel has the potential to be used for environmental remediation to remove phosphate from the wastewater.
Subject Field of Topic: Chemistry
Name of Speaker: Dr. Muhammad Akram
Professorial Rank of Speaker: Post-Doctoral Researcher
Email of Speaker: [email protected]
Affiliation of Speaker: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 210094, China
Date and Venue: (Thursday) 13 March 2025, 12:15 hrs, Room # 303, Old Building SNS, School of Natural Sciences, NUST Islamabad