WSEAS Transactions on Environment and Development
Print ISSN: 1790-507, E-ISSN: 2224-3496
Volume 19, 2023
Zeolitic Imidazolate/Fe3O4 Nanocomposite for Removal of Polystyrene and 4-tert-butylphenol via Adsorption
Authors: ,
Abstract: Simultaneous removal of microplastics and endocrine disruptors was performed with high yields using Zeolitic imidazolate/$$Fe_{3}O_{4}$$ nanocomposite. Polystyrene and 4-tert-butylphenol were used to indicate the microplastic and endocrine disruptors. Under optimal conditions for maximum yields, the matrix was as follows: 1.5 mg/l Zeolitic imidazolate/$$Fe_{3}O_{4}$$ nanocomposite, 30 min adsorption time at a Zeolitic imidazolate to $$Fe_{3}O_{4}$$ ratio of 1/1, and 6 mg/l individual polystyrene 4-tert-butylphenol concentrations. Under these conditions, 99% and 98% removals were detected for polystyrene and 4-tert-butylphenol, respectively via adsorption. An excellent reproducibility was found for Zeolitic imidazolate/$$Fe_{3}O_{4}$$ nanocomposite under steady-state operational conditions. The FESEM analyses showed that Zeolitic imidazolate/$$Fe_{3}O_{4}$$ nanocomposite diameter was around 30 nm at a Zeolitic imidazolate to $$Fe_{3}O_{4}$$ nanocomposite ratio of 1/1 while some larger dodecahedral particles size was ≤ 300 nm. $$N_{2}$$ adsorption–desorption measurements exhibited the porosity of Zeolitic imidazolate/$$Fe_{3}O_{4}$$ nanocomposite and the decrease of size is attributed to the incorporation of a nonporous magnetic phase via the addition of Fe2+ to the nanocomposite. BET results showed a specific surface area with a BET isotherm of $$5000 m^{2}/g$$, and a pore size of 30 nm for Zeolitic imidazolate/$$Fe_{3}O_{4}$$ nanocomposite. In the XRD spectra of Zeolitic imidazolate/$$Fe_{3}O_{4}$$ nanocomposite, the structure of nanocomposite was not changed by the addition of imidazolate and $$Fe_{3}O_{4}$$ nanocomposite. HRTEM analysis indicated some crystal agglomerations by doping of zeolitic imidazolate to $$Fe_{3}O_{4}$$. The reusability of the Zeolitic imidazolate/$$Fe_{3}O_{4}$$ nanocomposite was excellent even after 60 times utilization. The yields were 88% and 85% after 60 runs while the nanocomposite was reused 20 times during runs with yields as high as 97% and 98%.
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Keywords: Zeolitic imidazolate/$$Fe_{3}O_{4}$$ nanocomposite, Polystyrene, 4-tert-butylphenol, Adsorption, Microroplastics, Endocrine disruptors
Pages: 1071-1082
DOI: 10.37394/232015.2023.19.101