Simultaneous removal of Sb(<scp>iii</scp>) and Cd(<scp>ii</scp>) in water by adsorption onto a MnFe₂O₄–biochar nanocomposite

Abstract

In this study, a jacobsite-biochar nanocomposite (MnFe₂O₄-BC) was fabricated and used to simultaneously remove Sb(iii) and Cd(ii) from water <i>via</i> adsorption. The MnFe₂O₄-BC nanocomposite was prepared <i>via</i> a co-precipitation method and analyzed using various techniques. The results confirm the successful decoration of the biochar surface with MnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles. The maximum Sb(iii) removal efficiency was found to be higher from bi-solute solutions containing Cd(ii) than from single-solute systems, suggesting that the presence of Cd(ii) enhances the removal of Sb(iii). The Langmuir isotherm model describes well Sb(iii) and Cd(ii) removal <i>via</i> adsorption onto the MnFe₂O₄-BC nanocomposite. The maximum adsorption capacities are 237.53 and 181.49 mg g^-1 for Sb(iii) and Cd(ii), respectively, in a bi-solute system. Thus, the prepared MnFe₂O₄-BC nanocomposite is demonstrated to be a potential adsorbent for simultaneously removing Sb(iii) and Cd(ii) ions from aqueous solutions.