Synthesis and characterization of [Ni-Al-Fe] nanocomposite and its application for the removal of cadmium(II) and zinc(II) ions

Abstract

The applicability of [Ni-Al-Fe] trioxide nano composite for the selective removal of toxic metals from wastewater has been investigated. The [Ni-Al-Fe] nanocomposite of 10 nm size has been synthesized via solution combustion route using aqueous solutions containing aluminum nitrate, iron nitrate and nickel nitrate as oxidizers and glycine as fuel. The calcined composite oxide has been characterized by powder x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The surface area of the nanocomposite is determined to be 91 m²/g using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. Batch experiments carried out to determine the adsorption kinetics and the efficiency of removal of trace metals such as zinc and cadmium under different experimental conditions show the process to be highly pH dependant, which makes the nanocomposite selectively adsorb these two metals. The adsorption of the two metals reached equilibrium within 35 min; the adsorption data well fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms.