Green Synthesis of Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Using Herbal Extracts and Their Reusability in Heavy Metal Removal from Wastewater
Keywords:
Green synthesis, Iron oxide nanoparticles, Magnetic nanoparticles, Heavy metal removal, Wastewater treatment, Reusability, Adsorption, Environmental remediationAbstract
The contamination of water resources with heavy metals has become a critical environmental and public health concern due to rapid industrialization and urban development. Heavy metals such as lead (Pb²⁺), cadmium (Cd²⁺), chromium (Cr⁶⁺), and arsenic (As³⁺) are non-biodegradable, toxic, and capable of bioaccumulation in living organisms. Conventional treatment methods often fail to achieve complete removal or involve high operational costs and secondary pollution. In this context, the present study focuses on the green synthesis of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles using herbal extracts and their application in the removal of heavy metals from wastewater.
The nanoparticles were synthesized using plant-based extracts such as neem, tulsi, and aloe vera, which contain bioactive phytochemicals acting as reducing and stabilizing agents. This eco-friendly synthesis approach eliminates the use of hazardous chemicals and promotes sustainability. The synthesized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) were characterized using UV–Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to determine their structural, optical, and morphological properties.
The adsorption performance of the nanoparticles was evaluated through batch experiments using synthetic wastewater containing heavy metals such as Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺. The study also emphasized the reusability of the nanoparticles through magnetic separation and regeneration cycles. The results indicated that the nanoparticles exhibited high removal efficiency, exceeding 90% under optimized conditions. Additionally, the nanoparticles retained significant adsorption capacity even after multiple reuse cycles, demonstrating their economic viability. The findings suggest that green-synthesized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are effective, sustainable, and reusable adsorbents for wastewater treatment.
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