One pot synthesis of Fe3O4-chili carbon composite removing methylene blue, paracetamol and nickel ions from an aqueous solution

Abstract

The presence of harmful chemicals in water is a major problem in many regions worldwide. This study aimed to develop a nanocomposite of carbonised-chili and nanoparticles to remove nickel ions (Ni(II)), methylene blue (MB) and paracetamol (PARA) from water. The material was characterised by TEM, FTIR, XRD and TGA. The uptake for PARA and MB was endothermic with capacities of 39.98 and 44.31 mg/g at pH value 7, while that of Ni(II) was exothermic at 56.06 mg/g at pH value 5. The data were described by the Freundlich and PSO models. The reusability was tested up to four cycles. In conclusion, a low-cost nanocomposite adsorbent developed from chili carbon/Fe3O4 exhibited excellent adsorption capacity for various pollutants, indicating the versatility and potential of the material for water treatment.