Feasibility of goethite nanoparticles for Pb(ll) and Cd(ll) removal from aqueous solution

Abstract

ln this study, goethite nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by chemical precipitation approach with the assistance of microwave aimed to adsorb heavy metals from water. The phase and morphology of the obtained sample was characterized using XRD and SEM methods. The feasibility of goethite nanoparticles for Pb(II) and Cd(Il) removal from aqueous solution was evaluated. The effects of pH, contact time, and initial heavy metals concentrations were investigated. The adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) on goethite remarkably depended on the pH of the solution and contact time. Adsorption kinetics for both metals obeyed the pseudo-second-order and the adsorption data fit well with the Langmuir adsorption model. The maximum adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) on goethite nanoparticles was 111.11 and 76.92 mg.g⁻¹ at pH 5.5 after 120 and 90 min of the contact time, respectively.