Single-Step Synthesis of Magnesium-Doped Lithium Manganese Oxide Nanosorbent and Their Polymer Composite Beads for Selective Heavy Metal Removal

Abstract

Magnesium-doped lithium manganese oxide nanosorbent is prepared by a single-step solid-state method and characterized with appropriate analytical techniques, adsorption kinetic model, and isotherms. Competitive and noncompetitive adsorption studies are performed for a range of heavy metal ions. Prepared nanosorbent has shown explicit selectivity for various heavy metal ions and no remarkable influence of coexisting common interfering ions (Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺), which generally coexist with all natural sources of water, contaminated water, and industrial waste. To achieve easy handling of an adsorbent, polysulfone-nanosorbent (PS-nanosorbent) composite beads are prepared, and their competitive heavy metal removal performance is determined. Competitive adsorption and regeneration studies have shown that PS-nanosorbent beads can be employed for selective heavy metal removal and reuse for multiple cycles.