GREEN-SYNTHESIZED NANO CATALYSTS FOR EFFICIENT REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS FROM WASTEWATER

Abstract

The growing release of heavy metals in aquatic environments is a threat to environment and human health and is a major concern and thus it requires restorative and effective technology of wastewater treatment. In this work, the environmentally harmless Fe₃O₄ nanocatalysts were synthesized using the Moringa oleifera leaf extract through a green synthesis process and compared in the elimination of Pb^{2 +}, Cd^{2 +} and Cr^{6 +} ions in aqueous solutions. The phytochemicals that existed in Moringa oleifera served as natural reducing and stabilizing agents that allowed the formation of crystalline magnetite nanoparticles that had better surface functionality. XRD was used to perform structural and physicochemical characterization of the formed sample, and the presence of a cubic spinel phase Fe₃O₄ was confirmed, and the nanoscale of the formed particles led to high adsorption efficiency. Experiments of batch adsorption established that the green-synthesized Fe₃O₄ nanocatalysts had high metal removal efficiencies and rapid removal kinetics when optimized using a combination of pH, contact time, and the dosage of the nanocatalysts. The nanocatalysts were magnetically active, which allowed their easy separation and reuse, which contributed positively to their practical applicability. These results show that Moringa oleifera-mediated Fe₃O₄ nanocatalysts are a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and efficient method of the treatment of heavy-metal-contaminated wastewater, and they have great potential to be used in environmental practice sustainably.