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Effect of aluminum loading on structural and morphological characteristics of ZnO nanoparticles for heavy metal ion elimination

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Abstract

The aim of this work consists on the synthesis of a nanomaterial for heavy metal ion removal from aqueous solutions. Al-doped ZnO (ZnO:Alx%) nanopowders with 0 to 5% Al content are prepared via an amended sol-gel method. The morphology and microstructure of the prepared ZnO:Alx% are probed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray particles diffraction (XRD) analysis, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and elemental mapping. The findings reveal the prevalence of the hexagonal wurtzite ZnO structure with increasing crystallite size (45 to 60 nm) as a result of Al doping. SEM images show nearly spherical nanoparticles with considerable aggregation. EDS and elemental mapping analysis confirm the incorporation of Al within ZnO host lattice. The relatively large surface area as estimated from N2 adsorption makes the nanopowders very favorable for the uptake Cd(II), Cr (IV), Co (II) and Ni(II) from aqueous solution. The ZnO:Alx% with 1 wt% Al exhibits the highest uptake rate of heavy metal ions. The adsorption process has been found to be spontaneous and endothermic and obey Langmuir adsorption model. The high tendency of the prepared nanoparticles to eliminate heavy metal ions renders them suitable candidates for environmental remediation. Desorption studies with 0.1 M NaOH indicate that ZnO:Alx% can be regenerated effectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), P.O. Box 5701, Riyadh, 11432, Saudi Arabia

    Lotfi Khezami

  2. Centre de Recherches et des Technologies de l’Energie, Nanomatériaux, Systèmes Électriques, Energies Renouvelable (LRCRTEn05), Route Touristique Soliman, 2050, Hammam Lif, Tunisia

    Lotfi Khezami

  3. Chemistry Department, College of Science and Arts at Al-Rass, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia

    Abueliz Modwi

  4. Department of Physics, College of Sciences, Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), P.O. Box 5701, Riyadh, 11432, Saudi Arabia

    Imed Ghiloufi

  5. Laboratory of Physics of Materials and Nanomaterials Applied at Environment, Faculty of Sciences of Gabes, 6072, Gabes, Tunisia

    Imed Ghiloufi & Lassaad El Mir

  6. Department of Chemistry, College of Applied and Industrial Sciences, University of Bahri, Khartoum, Sudan

    Kamal K. Taha

  7. Industry of Chemistry, College of Applied and Industrial Sciences, University of Bahri, Khartoum, Sudan

    Kamal K. Taha

  8. Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, PO Box 32038, Zallaq, Kingdom of Bahrain

    Mohamed Bououdina

  9. College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Department, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 394, Abha, 61411, Saudi Arabia

    Atef ElJery

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  1. Lotfi Khezami
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  2. Abueliz Modwi
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  4. Kamal K. Taha
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Khezami, L., Modwi, A., Ghiloufi, I. et al. Effect of aluminum loading on structural and morphological characteristics of ZnO nanoparticles for heavy metal ion elimination. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 3086–3099 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07279-0

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